Apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles, and noodle scraper

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles, includes: the pair of cutting blade rolls at which a plurality of toroidal-groove sections is formed, the cutting blade rolls cutting a noodle band and ejecting a plurality of noodles; and a noodle scraper constituted of a plate body having a bent section extending along a longitudinal direction, the noodle scraper including a plurality of scraping tines formed in a comb form, the scraping tines being provided at one of long sides of the plate body and engaged with each of the toroidal-groove sections, wherein each scraping tine includes a tine-edge section, the plurality of tine-edge sections are engaged with the plurality of toroidal-groove sections at a front position and a rear position in a circumferential direction of the cutting blade rolls, in accordance with the depths of the toroidal-groove sections engaged with the scraping tines.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Phase filing under 35 U.S.C. §371of PCT/JP2009/005304, filed Oct. 9, 2009, which designated the UnitedStates and was published in a language other than English, which claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) to Japanese Patent Application No.2008-264700, filed Oct. 11, 2008. The contents of these applications areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Present Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for cutting and ejectingnoodles cuts a band-shaped piece of dough and ejects noodles, and anoodle scraper peeling the noodles that were cut and ejected in cuttingblade rolls of the apparatus, from the cutting blade rolls.

Specifically, the present invention relates a noodle scraper thatincreases the distance between adjacent noodles, front to back and sideto side, peels the noodles from a groove section of the cutting bladerolls, prevents the noodles from being bent after the noodles areremoved from the cutting blade rolls, prevents adjacent noodles fromadhering to each other, and is used for producing noodles that arerestorable to a liner-shape when the noodles are cooked.

2. Background Art

As a method for producing noodles, generally, a method is known in whicha noodle dough is produced by mixing and kneading ingredients forproducing noodles, such as a flour or starch, a noodle band is producedby rolling the dough with a predetermined thickness, the noodle band iscut and linear noodles are ejected with a predetermined thickness by useof an apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles, and raw noodles arethereby produced.

The raw noodles are processed after required processing steps such as acutting process or a steaming-boiling process in accordance with aconfiguration of finished products of a variety of noodles such as rawnoodles, dry noodles, steamed noodles, or instant noodles.

In a step for producing steamed noodles and instant noodles, afternoodles are cut and ejected, it is essential for the noodles to be in asteaming-boiling process.

An apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles is substantially andcontinuously connected with a steaming-boiling apparatus with a noodlefeeding conveyer interposed therebetween, and transfer of noodles isautomated.

In a conventional apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles, the pairof cutting blade rolls is disposed in a horizontal state or in anappropriately inclined state, and a guide pipe is provided under thecutting blade rolls.

The guide pipe extends in a direction perpendicular to a travelingdirection of the noodle feeding conveyer or in a sloped direction withrespect to the traveling direction.

The noodles that were cut by and ejected from the cutting blade rolls istransformed from the linear shape to the bent shape when passing throughthe guide pipe.

In addition, the noodles that were transformed into the bent shape areguided to the feeding conveyer disposed under the guide pipe.

The feeding conveyer transfers the noodles that are in a bent state in aperpendicular direction (vertical direction), to the steaming-boilingapparatus.

In the steaming-boiling apparatus, boiled noodles having a required bentshape are obtained (for example, reference to Japanese Examined UtilityModel Application Publication No. H4-38714).

The pair of cutting blade rolls are constituted of two rolls in which aplurality of toroidal-groove sections is consecutively arrayed with apredetermined distance in a circumferential direction of each roll.

A protuberance portion that is provided at a circumferential faceconstitutes a cutting-edge portion, protuberance portions of the twocutting blade rolls are alternately engaged with each other.

When the two cutting blade rolls rotate due to a driving device and thenoodle band passes between the two cutting blade rolls, the noodle bandis cut by the protuberance portions of the two cutting blade rolls.

Namely, the pair of cutting blade rolls is a cutting device cutting thenoodle band and ejecting noodles.

In addition, a noodle scraper used for producing noodles is disposedunder the cutting blade rolls.

The noodle scraper is constituted of a plate body that is folded once ormore so as to have an obtuse angle.

In addition, a plurality of scraping tines is provided in a comb form atone of the long sides of the noodle scraper.

The noodle scraper is disposed under the cutting blade rolls so that thescraping tines are engaged with or fitted into the toroidal-groovesections of the cutting blade rolls.

When the noodle band is cut and the noodles are ejected by use of thecutting blade rolls, that is, when cutting and ejecting are performed,in both of rolls facing each other, the cutting blade in one of therolls shears the noodle dough (noodle band) so as to push the noodleband into a groove section in the other of the rolls. Because of this,the noodles that are formed by shearing the noodle band are set in thetoroidal-groove sections.

Consequently, when a shorn face (cutting face) of the noodles that isnot dried is adhered to an inner surface of the groove section, thenoodles also remain in the groove section after the cutting and ejectingof the noodles, and it is difficult to remove the noodles from thecutting blade rolls so that the noodles are dropped from the cuttingblade rolls.

In addition, a removal defect in that it is difficult to remove thenoodles that were cut by and ejected from the cutting blade rollsoccurs. Due to the removal defect, the roll rotates in a state where thenoodles are brought in the roll.

As a result, the noodles are tangled around the periphery of the cuttingblade rolls, and it becomes impossible to continuously operate thecutting blade rolls.

In order to solve the foregoing problem, conventionally, theabove-described noodle scraper used for producing noodles is disposedunder the cutting blade rolls, each scraping tine formed in the shape ofthe comb is engaged with or fitted into each toroidal-groove section ofthe cutting blade roll. Therefore, the cut-ejected noodles that were setin the toroidal-groove sections of the cutting blade rolls are peeled byuse of the scraping tines while rotating the cutting blade rolls.

In this way, it is possible to smoothly remove the noodles from thecutting blade rolls so that the noodles are dropped from the cuttingblade rolls in a rotating state.

The foregoing comb-formed noodle scraper is referred to as a noodlescratching plate, a scraper, or a scraping body.

In addition, the scraping tines formed in the shape of the comb isreferred to as a peeling blade, a scratching blade, or a scraper.

In a conventional method for producing boiled noodles or in an apparatusfor producing the same, as shown in FIG. 2, a cross-sectional face of acutting blade of cutting blade rolls 13 and 13′ has arecessed-protuberance shape in an axial direction.

In addition, the depths of the plurality of groove sections 14 and 14′are equal to each other.

The noodles have been cut and ejected by use of the foregoing cuttingblade rolls 13 and 13′.

The noodle scraper used in the cutting blade rolls 13 and 13′ shown inFIG. 2 has a configuration in which the tine-lengths of the scrapingtines are equal to each other so as to be the shape of the comb.

In addition, in the noodle scraper as shown in FIG. 3, long scrapingtines and short scraping tines have been alternately and repeatedlyprovided in a simple manner.

When the noodles are cut by and ejected from the cutting blade rolls 13and 13′ by use of the foregoing noodle scraper, the noodles that werecut and ejected are peeled and removed form each of the cutting bladerolls corresponding to the tine-length of the noodle scraper in a statewhere the noodles are aligned in line. The noodles are dropped on anoodle feeding conveyer or a guide pipe which is provided under thecutting blade rolls. The noodle feeding conveyer transports the noodlesto a steaming-boiling apparatus. The noodles have been processed by asteaming-boiling process.

Because of this, when the cut-ejected noodles are simply steamed andboiled in a bundle form, adhesion or agglutination of the noodles occursat portions between faces of the noodles which have been cut and ejectedor between rolled faces of the noodles. Steaming-boiling defects andsteaming-boiling insufficiency (starch gelatinization insufficiency)occur at portions at which the noodles are adhered or agglutinated.

As a result, there is a problem in that the commercial value isdegraded.

In addition, when the noodles are cooked and restored, that is, when aboiling-heating cooking is performed, a defect of ravel in that thenoodles do not adequately ravel, a cooking defect or the like occurs.Therefore, there is thereby a problem in that qualities of eating andtexture are degraded in terms of tasting the noodles.

As a method of solving a problem of the noodles being adhered,agglutinated, or joined to each other, conventionally, bent noodles areformed by bending the cut-ejected noodles in an undulating form by useof a guide pipe, and the bent noodles are steamed and boiled (forexample, reference to Japanese Examined Patent Application, SecondPublication No. S30-3036 and Japanese Examined Patent Application,Second Publication No. S30-7193).

In this case, the noodles that were cut by and ejected from the cuttingblade rolls are grouped so as to be separated into noodles groups foreach cutting blade roll. The noodles are formed so as to become bentnoodles in an undulating form in a perpendicular direction (verticaldirection). Because of this, the frequency of adhesion of the noodlesthat are adjacent to each other is reduced.

However, the noodles that were cut by and ejected from one of thecutting blade rolls are evenly aligned in one of the cutting bladerolls, and the noodles that are adjacent to each other by a microdistance are in contact with each other at the shorn face thereof.Because of this, it is impossible to prevent adjacent noodles in thesame row from adhering to each other.

Furthermore, due to a heating action caused by steaming and boiling,noodle components are changed, the bent shape of the bent noodles isfixed, an adhesion portion of the bent noodles that are adjacent to eachother is agglutinated and fixed, and the bent shape becomes tight.

Consequently, the portions at which the noodles are fixed are unevenlysteamed and boiled (starch gelatinization), and there is thereby aproblem in that a defect of ravel in that the noodles do not adequatelyravel, or a cooking defect occurs in a finished product.

Japanese Examined Patent Application, Second Publication No. S55-34648disclose a method for continuously producing steamed noodles in whichcoalescence and agglutination do not occur between adjacent steamednoodles after the steaming-heating is performed.

In this method, a noodle scraper is employed, and the noodle scraperincludes a long scraping tine and a short scraping tine (two lengths ofscraping tine), and they are alternately arrayed.

Each of the two kinds of scraping tines of the noodle scraper is engagedwith a front position or a rear position in a circumferential directionof the cutting blade rolls.

The noodles that were cut by and ejected from the cutting blade rollsare peeled and removed from each of the front position and the rearposition in the circumferential direction of the cutting blade rolls.

In this way, a noodle group that was cut by and ejected from one of thecutting blade rolls is divided into two groups, that is, the noodles aredivided into four noodle groups in the pair of cutting blade rolls.

Therefore, in accordance with the shape of the scraping tine of thenoodle scraper, a noodle group that was cut by and ejected from one ofthe cutting blade rolls is divided into two groups.

Moreover, since a gap between noodles that are adjacent to each otherand that were cut and ejected from the same row in one of the noodlegroups expands, adjacent noodles are prevented from being coalesced oragglutinated.

In Japanese Examined Utility Model Application Publication No.S63-45903, the same technique as the technique of Japanese ExaminedPatent Application, Second Publication No. S55-34648 is disclosed.

In disclosure of Japanese Examined Utility Model Application PublicationNo. S63-45903, in order to engage the scraping tines with the frontposition and the rear position of the roll circumferential direction,the scraping tines are folded so that the engagement angle of a shortscraping tine relative to the roll is large.

The foregoing technique is disclosed in Japanese Examined PatentApplication, Second Publication No. H4-41582 and Japanese PatentPublication No. 3746087.

However, the above-described conventional arts disclose a technique inwhich the scraping tines of the noodle scraper are alternately folded,and positions at which the groove sections of the cutting blade rollsare engaged with the scraping tines are different from each other, andthe amount of displacement between the front position and the rearposition in the roll circumferential direction is too low.

Therefore, problems (1) and (2) still exist.

(1) When the noodles are peeled from the cutting blade rolls, even if aplurality of noodles is divided into each group, there is a problem inthat, along with removal and dropping of the noodles from the cuttingblade rolls, the noodles approach each other, and adjacent noodles arejoined to or adhered to each other.

In addition, there is a problem in that a plurality of the noodle groupsare disposed while being attuned to each other in accordance with astate where the plurality of noodles land on the feeding conveyerdisposed under the cutting blade rolls or in accordance with the shapein which the plurality of noodle groups that were divided into aplurality of groups and were stacked in layers.

For this reason, there is a problem in that adjacent noodles are joinedto or adhered to each other while all of the plurality of noodle groupshave the same bent shape.

(2) In addition, since the noodles that were cut and ejected as onegroup are peeled from, removed from, and dropped from the cutting bladerolls while being aligned, the noodles that were cut and ejected fromthe same row are formed so as to have a space corresponding to onenoodle size.

However, a gap between the noodles that are adjacent to each other isnarrow.

Because of this, if the plurality of noodles having a narrow distancetherebetween lands on the feeding conveyer while being attuned to eachother, there is a problem in that the shorn faces of the noodles thatare adjacent to each other in the same row are adhered to each other.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H10-210924specifies an angle of the scraping tine relative to the cutting bladerolls, and the distance between the front position and the rear positionat which the scraping tines are engaged with the groove sections.

In this technique, the problem of the above-described (1) is improved,however, the problem of the above-described (2) is not solved.

Namely, when the noodles that were cut and ejected from the samepositions in the circumferential direction of the cutting blade rollsland on the feeding conveyer while being attuned to each other, there isa problem in that the shorn faces of the noodles that are adjacent toeach other are joined to or adhered to each other.

In addition, conventionally, when dry noodles, steamed noodles, instantnoodles or the like are produced from raw noodles, in order to preventthe cut-ejected noodles that are adjacent to each other from beingjoined, agglutinated, or adhered to each other, the cut-ejected noodlesare formed so as to bend in an undulating form that is forcedlystretched in a perpendicular direction (vertical direction).Furthermore, a noodle agglomeration in which the noodles are stacked intwo-stage layers is formed, and portions at which adjacent noodles areadhered or in contact with each other are reduced.

However, in a method of forming the bent noodles as described above, theplurality of noodles that were cut by and ejected from one of thecutting blade rolls are periodically formed so as to be bent noodles atthe identical frequency.

Because of this, in adjacent noodles of the plurality of noodle groupsthat are periodically cut and ejected at the identical frequency, thereis a problem in that shorn faces that are adjacent to each other arefurther easily adhered to each other when a bending step is performed.

For this reason, adhesion-joint portions are dried while beingunmodified, a fixed noodle agglomeration is formed; or, a noodleagglomeration in which the adhesion-joint portions are agglutinated isformed due to a starch gelatinization action in a starch component,which is caused by a steaming-boiling process such as steaming orboiling.

Because of the foregoing fixation and agglutination in the noodleagglomeration, a starch component is incompletely or unevenlygelatinized, a defect of ravel in that noodles do not adequately ravelwhen the noodles are cooked, and a defect of qualities of eating andtexture such that restored noodles are tasteless occurs.

Therefore, because of the fixation and agglutination of the noodles, acommercial quality and a commercial value to be significantly degraded.

In order to solve the above-described problems, as much reduction of theadhesion of adjacent noodles as possible has been desired.

In addition, a method is disclosed in which a noodle scraper including along scraping tine and a short scraping tine (two lengths of scrapingtine) is employed; the scraping tines are alternately arrayed; each ofthe noodle scraper having two types of scraping tine is engaged with thefront position and the rear position in the circumferential direction ofone of the cutting blade rolls; and a noodle group that was cut by andejected from the cutting blade roll is separated into two groups.

However, even if this method is employed, the noodle group that was cutand ejected from the front position is not sufficiently separated fromthe noodle group that was cut and ejected from the rear position.

In addition, each of four noodle groups that were cut by and ejectedfrom two cutting blade rolls is formed so as to periodically bend at theidentical frequency, the groups are stacked in layers and steamed andboiled.

Therefore, the problems of adjacent noodle groups being joined to andadhered to each other, and of adjacent noodles being joined to andadhered to each other in a single group, are not still solved.

For this reason, a problem such as the defect of ravel in a finishedproduct still remains.

Generally, the shape of a buckwheat noodle or a wheat noodle istypically linear.

However, in a case where raw noodles that were cut and ejected arecontinuously processed by steaming and boiling while the linear shapethereof is maintained in order to produce a large quantity of noodles,it is necessary to prepare a heavyweight feeding conveyer or a hugesteaming-boiling apparatus, and there is a problem of a disadvantageoccurring in terms of space and cost.

In order to solve the problem, a method in which noodles are formed soas to be bent in a steaming-boiling step, in which and the bent noodlesare stretched after the steaming-boiling step is disclosed (for example,Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No.S48-56876).

However, in this method, it is necessary to further prepare an apparatusfor stretching the noodles.

Additionally, when noodles having the same degree of strength asconventional bent noodles are formed so as to be bent by use of a methodin a manner similar to cut and eject conventional bent noodles, and whenand a steaming-boiling process is performed, noodle components aredenatured due to steaming-heating action in the steaming-boilingprocess, and the bent shape of the noodles is fixed. Even if the noodlesare stretched after steaming and boiling, the noodles are not returnedto the shape of line, and there is a problem in that the bent shapethereof is maintained.

Consequently, in a continuous quantity production of a buckwheat noodleand a wheat noodle along with the steaming-boiling process, there is aproblem in that it is difficult to produce linear noodles after cooking.

Because of this, in a provision of a buckwheat noodle and a wheat noodlehaving the bent shape, consumer dissatisfaction is not still solved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the above-described problems by improvingan apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles and a noodle scraper usedtherein, and realizes the above-described object.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an apparatus for cuttingand ejecting noodles of a first aspect of the present invention,includes: a pair of cutting blade rolls at which a plurality oftoroidal-groove sections is formed, the cutting blade rolls cutting anoodle band and ejecting a plurality of noodles, the plurality oftoroidal-groove sections having two or more depths, and the plurality oftoroidal-groove sections being formed so as to be alternately orsequentially arrayed; a noodle scraper constituted of a plate bodyhaving a bent section extending along a longitudinal direction, thenoodle scraper including a plurality of scraping tines formed in a combform, the scraping tines being provided at one of long sides of theplate body and engaged with each of the toroidal-groove sections; aguide section disposed under the noodle scraper, transporting aplurality of the noodles that are dropped from the cutting blade rolls;and a feeding conveyer disposed under the guide section, the feedingconveyer feeding the plurality of noodles.

In the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles of the first aspect ofthe present invention, each scraping tine includes a tine-edge section,the plurality of tine-edge sections are engaged with the plurality oftoroidal-groove sections at a front position and a rear position in acircumferential direction of the cutting blade rolls, in accordance withthe depths of the toroidal-groove sections engaged with the scrapingtines.

Here, the bent section is a portion at which the plate body is bent intoa V-shape or is bent several times.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the cutting blade rolls becutting blade rolls having a square blade cutting and ejecting thenoodles, and the cross-sectional shape of the noodles be tetragon.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality oftoroidal-groove sections include a first groove section having ashortest depth and a second groove section having a greatest depth; theplurality of scraping tines include a first scraping tine having alongest tine-length and a second scraping tine having a tine-lengthwhich is shorter than that of the first scraping tine; and the firstscraping tine be engaged with the first groove section and the secondscraping tine is engaged with the second groove section.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of firstgroove sections and a plurality of second groove sections be alternatelydisposed.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the second scraping tineengaged with the second groove section include a tine-base section or atine-middle section; and the tine-base section or the tine-middlesection be formed in a folded shape that is folded toward a bottomportion of the second groove section, or in a curved shape.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the tine-edge section ofthe first scraping tine engaged with the first groove section be formedin a folded shape that is folded toward a bottom portion of the firstgroove section, or in a curved shape.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the tine-edge section ofthe first scraping tine include a sloped face that is sloped in adirection that is orthogonal to a direction in which the tine-edgesection extends.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the tine-edge section ofthe second scraping tine include a sloped face that is sloped in adirection that is orthogonal to a direction in which the tine-edgesection extends.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, a position of a foldedportion or a position of a curving-start portion in the tine-edgesection of the first scraping tine substantially coincide with theposition of an outer-peripheral face of the cutting blade rolls inheight, or be disposed outward of the outer-peripheral face of thecutting blade rolls.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the plurality oftoroidal-groove sections include a first groove section having ashortest depth, a second groove section having a greatest depth, and athird groove section having a depth which is greater than that of thefirst groove section and is less than that of the second groove section;the scraping tines include a first scraping tine having a longesttine-length, a second scraping tine having a tine-length which isshorter than that of the first scraping tine, and a third scraping tinehaving a tine-length which is shorter than that of the first scrapingtine and is longer than that of the second scraping tine; and the firstscraping tine be engaged with the first groove section, the secondscraping tine be engaged with the second groove section, and the thirdscraping tine be engaged with the third groove section.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the second scraping tineinclude a tine-base section or a tine-middle section; and the tine-basesection or the tine-middle section be formed in a folded shape that isfolded toward a bottom portion of the second groove section, or in acurved shape.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the second scraping tineand the third scraping tine include a tine-base section or a tine-middlesection; the tine-base section of the second scraping tine or thetine-middle section of the second scraping tine be formed in a foldedshape that is folded toward a bottom portion of the second groovesection, or in a curved shape; and the tine-base section of the thirdscraping tine or the tine-middle section of the third scraping tine beformed in a folded shape that is folded toward a bottom portion of thethird groove section, or in a curved shape.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, a folded angle or a degreeof curvature of the second scraping tine engaged with the second groovesection be greater than a folded angle or a degree of curvature of thethird scraping tine engaged with the third groove section.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the first scraping tineinclude a tine-base section or a tine-middle section; and the tine-basesection or the tine-middle section be formed in a folded shape that isfolded toward a bottom portion of the first groove section, or in acurved shape.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, each of the first scrapingtine and the second scraping tine include a tine-base section or atine-middle section; the tine-base section of the first scraping tine orthe tine-middle section of the first scraping tine be formed in a foldedshape that is folded toward a bottom portion of the first groovesection, or in a curved shape; and the tine-base section of the secondscraping tine or the tine-middle section of the second scraping tine beformed in a folded shape that is folded toward a bottom portion of thesecond groove section, or in a curved shape.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the first groove section,the second groove section, and the third groove section be provided atthe cutting blade rolls in the order where the depths thereof increase.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the first groove section,the second groove section, and the third groove section are provided atthe cutting blade rolls in a predetermined order.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the tine-edge section ofthe first scraping tine include a sloped face that is sloped in adirection that is orthogonal to a direction in which the tine-edgesection extends.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the tine-edge section ofthe second scraping tine or the third scraping tine include a slopedface that is sloped in a direction that is orthogonal to a direction inwhich the tine-edge section extends.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, a position of a foldedportion or a position of a curving-start portion in the tine-edgesection of the first scraping tine substantially coincide with theposition of an outer-peripheral face of the cutting blade rolls inheight, or be disposed outward of the outer-peripheral face of thecutting blade rolls.

It is preferable that, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesof the first aspect of the present invention, the guide section have awidth corresponding to a width of the cutting blade rolls; the guidesection be provided so as to be downwardly inclined with respect to atransfer direction of the noodles fed by the feeding conveyer; and theguide section and an upside portion between the guide section and thefeeding conveyer be opened.

A noodle scraper of a second aspect of the present invention, includes aplate body having a bent section extending along a longitudinaldirection; a plurality of first scraping tines having a longesttine-length; and a plurality of second scraping tines having atine-length which is shorter than that of the first scraping tine.

In the noodle scraper of the second aspect of the present invention, theplurality of first scraping tines and the plurality of second scrapingtines are alternately provided at one of long sides of the plate body ina comb form; the second scraping tine includes a tine-base section or atine-middle section; and the tine-base section or the tine-middlesection is formed in a folded shape or a curved shape.

It is preferable that, in the noodle scraper of the second aspect of thepresent invention, a tine-edge section of the first scraping tine beformed in a folded shape or a curved shape.

It is preferable that, in the noodle scraper of the second aspect of thepresent invention, a tine-edge section of the first scraping tine or atine-edge section of the second scraping tine include a sloped face thatis sloped in a direction that is orthogonal to a direction in which thetine-edge section extends.

A noodle scraper of a third aspect of the present invention, includes aplate body having a bent section extending along a longitudinaldirection; a plurality of first scraping tines having a longesttine-length; a plurality of second scraping tines having a tine-lengthwhich is shorter than that of the first scraping tine; and a pluralityof third scraping tine having a tine-length which is shorter than thatof the first scraping tine and is longer than that of the secondscraping tine.

In the noodle scraper of the third aspect of the present invention, theplurality of first scraping tines, the plurality of second scrapingtines, and the plurality of third scraping tines are alternatelyprovided at one of long sides of the plate body in a comb form; thesecond scraping tine and the third scraping tine include a tine-basesection or a tine-middle section; and the tine-base section or thetine-middle section is formed in a folded shape or a curved shape.

It is preferable that, in the noodle scraper of the third aspect of thepresent invention, the plurality of first scraping tines, the pluralityof second scraping tines, and the plurality of third scraping tines bearrayed in the order where the depths thereof increase; only tine-edgesection of the first scraping tine, or a tine-edge section of the firstscraping tine and the third scraping tine be formed in a folded shape ora curved shape.

It is preferable that, in the noodle scraper of the third aspect of thepresent invention, a tine-edge section of the first scraping tine, atine-edge section of the second scraping tine, or a tine-edge section ofthe second scraping tine include a sloped face that is sloped in adirection that is orthogonal to a direction in which the tine-edgesection extends.

In both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles and the noodlescraper related to the present invention, the noodles are peeled fromthe cutting blade rolls, and the distance between noodles that areadjacent to each other, front to back and side to side, sufficientlyincreases.

Consequently, adjacent noodles are prevented from being joined to oradhered to each other at the shorn face of the noodles.

Furthermore, in a steaming-boiling step, the noodles are prevented frombeing joined to, agglutinated to, and adhered to each other.

In addition, in both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles andthe noodle scraper related to the present invention, since the slopedface is formed at the first scraping tine engaged with the first groovesection, it is possible to change the direction in which the noodlespeeled by the sloped face is removed, from the direction that isorthogonal to a direction in which the tine-edge section extends.

For this reason, in the case where a noodle group peeled by the slopedface and a noodle group peeled by the second scraping tine engaged withthe second groove section are stacked in layers, portions at which thenoodles are in contact with each other are limited to points at whichthe noodles intersect with each other.

Namely, the plurality of noodles are stacked in layers while being incontact with each other at points thereof.

Therefore, the number of contact and adhesion portions which are causedby a line contact or a surface contact drastically descreases; joining,adhesion, and agglutination are comprehensively prevented; and it isthereby possible to solve conventional problems.

In addition, in both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles andthe noodle scraper related to the present invention, a direction inwhich the noodles that were cut by and ejected from the cutting bladerolls are removed is converted into an oblique direction, and adisplacement force occurs such that the noodles rotates; therefore, atorsional action occurs in the noodles.

For this reason, when the plurality of noodles are peeled in a line, thecontact faces of the noodles in the line are three-dimensionallydisplaced in different directions.

In this way, it is possible to prevent the plurality of noodles peeledfrom the first groove section from adhering to each other.

In addition, also, when the noodle groups are stacked in layers based onthe difference between the plurality of scraping tines in the noodlescraper, due to the difference between the scraping directions of eachof the groups, it is possible to further reduce the number of points atwhich the noodle group peeled from the second groove section is incontact with the noodle group peeled from the first groove section.

Therefore, it is possible to comprehensively prevent the noodles frombeing joined to, adhered to, and agglutinated to each other.

In addition, in both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles andthe noodle scraper related to the present invention, since the slopedface is formed at the plurality of scraping tines, a removing directionin which the noodles are removed from the cutting blade rolls isconverted into a direction oblique to a direction in which the scrapingtine extends.

In addition, a force of converting the removing direction as mentionedabove, a force of ejecting the noodles which is caused by a rotationforce of the cutting blade rolls, a force of dropping the noodles whichis caused by own weight of the noodles that were removed from thecutting blade rolls, or the like are synergistically operated; thenoodles that were cut by and ejected from the cutting blade rolls aredropped from the cutting blade rolls so as to form a three-dimensionalspiral shape.

Consequently, it is possible to form the structure of the noodles thatland on the guide section into a continuous spiral configuration whiledisplacing a phase of curved noodles that have a predetermined period.

Because of this, it is possible to stack the plurality of noodles inlayers while folding the noodles in a relatively large region.

For this reason, since it is possible to steam and boil the noodlegroups while maintaining a high level of linearity and air space rate ofthe noodle groups, it is possible to prevent the noodles from being bentdue to steaming and boiling.

Furthermore, since the number of contact points at which adjacentnoodles are in contact with each other dramatically decreases, thecontact points easily ravel out during cooking.

Therefore, it is possible to restore the cooked noodles to a linearshape that is similar to the shape of the cut and ejected noodles.

In addition, as described above, the noodle group that is stacked inlayers in a spiral manner are stacked on a noodle group that landed anddeposited in a zig-zag manner or on a noodle group that landed anddeposited in a wavy manner.

Consequently, since the noodles are in contact with each other at pointsat which the plurality of noodles three-dimensionally intersect witheach other, line contact or noodle contact is prevented in the noodles.

Because of this, the plurality of contact points that occur between thenoodle groups which have different three-dimensional structures, whichis caused by stacking the plurality of noodles in layers, are randomlyand widely distributed.

For this reason, the number of the contact points can be drasticallydecreased, and it is possible to prevent the plurality of noodles frombeing joined to, agglutinated to, and adhered to each other in asteaming-boiling step.

In addition, in both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles andthe noodle scraper related to the present invention, the plurality ofnoodles are peeled by the scraping tine while being in contact with thesloped face along with the rotation of the cutting blade rolls, and areremoved from the groove section.

At this time, the direction at which the noodles are removed isconverted into the oblique direction along the sloped face, and thenoodles are ejected.

In addition, since displacement of the noodles occurs which is caused bya torsional action and a rotation action in the noodles, the noodlesthat were peeled by the sloped face fall in a spiral manner; the noodlesare stacked on an upper face of the guide section or on a top portion ofthe noodle group that arrived in advance at the upper face of the guidesection.

In addition, the noodle groups falling in a spiral manner are stackedand deposited in layers while shifting a phase thereof.

Consequently, in any of the noodle group that was cut and ejected fromthe same row or and the other noodle groups, the number of portions atwhich the noodles are adhered to each other is reduced, the noodles areprevented from being adhered to and agglutinated to each other in asteaming-boiling process.

As a result, it is possible to solve both the cooking defect and thedefect of ravel which are caused by adhering the noodles in a finishedproduct.

In addition, in both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles andthe noodle scraper related to the present invention, since the noodlesare cut by and ejected from the pair of cutting blade rolls, the noodlegroups that are eventually stacked in layers on the guide section have astructure in which the noodle groups that are stacked in a spiral mannerare sandwiched between the noodle groups that are stacked in a zig-zagmanner or in a wavy manner.

In addition, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles relatedto the present invention, the guide section that is inclined relative toa direction in which the noodles are fed by the feeding conveyer isemployed.

Here, the guide section includes a guide shoot, a guide plate, or aguide pipe.

Hereinafter, the guide section is optionally referred to as a guideshoot or the like.

Here, if the guide section is the guide pipe, the guide pipe has astructure in which the noodles are not forcedly bent.

The foregoing guide section opens at the upside portion between thefeeding conveyer and the guide section, toward the transfer direction inwhich the noodles are transported by the feeding conveyer.

For this reason, the shape of the noodles is prevented from being fixedwhile being formed in a bent manner, and the effect of the linearity ofnoodles being maintained is obtained.

Consequently, since the noodles are in contact with each other at pointsat which the plurality of noodles three-dimensionally intersect witheach other, line contact or surface contact is prevented in the noodles.

Comparing the noodle group that was cut by and ejected from the firstgroove section with the noodle group that was cut by and ejected fromthe second groove section, the shapes of the noodles that are droppedtoward the guide section from the cutting blade rolls are different fromeach other.

Consequently, in each of the noodle groups that were cut by and ejectedfrom the first groove section and the second groove, noodle conditionsor noodle structures are different from each other at the time when thenoodle groups land on the guide section, based on differences betweenthe shapes of the noodles.

The noodle groups that were cut by and ejected from the first groovesection and the second groove are stacked in layers in a verticaldirection on the guide section.

The guide section smoothly transports the noodle groups and can allowthe noodle groups to be stably moved on the feeding conveyer whilemaintaining the shape of the noodle groups that are stacked in layers asmentioned above.

Therefore, the shape of the noodle groups that were cut by and ejectedfrom the first groove section and the second groove and that are stackedin layers becomes a random three-dimensional structure, and thethree-dimensional structure is maintained.

Because of this, it is possible to considerably eliminate the number ofjoint points at which the noodle group that was cut by and ejected fromthe first groove section and the second groove are adhered to eachother.

Therefore, in a steaming-boiling step in which the noodle groups thatare stacked in layers in the above-described manner are steamed andboiled, it is possible to prevent adjacent noodles from being joined to,agglutinated to, and adhered to each other.

In addition, in the guide section of the apparatus for cutting andejecting noodles related to the present invention, a portion between thecutting blade rolls and the guide section and a portion between thefeeding conveyer and the guide section are opened.

Consequently, a facing plate is not provided, and the facing platesuppressing or interfering with an action in which the noodles that werecut by and ejected from the first groove section are peeled and removedin a direction oblique to the direction in which the noodles aredropped.

For this reason, in a further large region, it is possible to occur aremoval action (movement) in the oblique direction.

Thus, the region in which the three-dimensional layered structureconstituted of the plurality of noodle groups is formed is expanded, andit is possible to dramatically eliminate the number of contact portionsat which adjacent noodles are in contact with each other.

In addition, in the guide section of the apparatus for cutting andejecting noodles related to the present invention, when the noodles landon the shoot or the plate, the distance between adjacent noodles in avertical direction and from side to side increases, variations in thedistance increases, the contact portions at which the plurality ofnoodles are in contact with each other are randomly distributed, and itis also possible to reduce the number of contact portions.

In addition, in the noodle scraper related to the present invention, aplurality of scraping tines with different tine-lengths is provided.

The plurality of scraping tines are engaged with positions that aredifferent from each other in the circumferential direction of thecutting blade rolls in accordance with the front position and the rearposition.

Because of this, in noodle groups that were cut, ejected, and peeledfrom the cutting blade rolls, the noodles are peeled and removed fromthe cutting blade rolls while corresponding to the array of the scrapingtines.

Therefore, it is possible to increase the distance between the frontposition and the rear position or the distance between noodles adjacentto each other, more than with conventional noodle scrapers.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent joining, adhesion, agglutination,or the like in the plurality of noodle groups.

In addition, in both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles andthe noodle scraper related to the present invention, since theabove-described constitution and effect are obtained, it is possible toprevent a variety of noodles from adhering to each other.

Specifically, not only in the case of producing the noodles to be in asteaming-boiling process but also in a case of producing raw noodleswithout the steaming-boiling process, or in a case where aheat-treatment such as a boiling treatment is performed, it is possibleto prevent noodles from adhering to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing an apparatus for cutting andejecting noodles related to the present invention, and illustrating astep before a step of cutting and ejecting noodles and a step after thestep of cutting and ejecting noodles.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing conventionalsquare cutting blade rolls, and is a vertical cross-sectional viewshowing the square cutting blade rolls in an axial line.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a conventional noodle scraper, and is a planview schematically showing a noodle scraper in which long scraping tinesand short scraping tines are alternately arrayed.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing cutting bladerolls of an apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles related to thepresent invention shown in FIG. 19, and is a vertical cross-sectionalview showing the cutting blade rolls in the axial lines A and A′.

FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing a noodle scraper related tothe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic bottom view showing an apparatus for cutting andejecting noodles related to the present invention from a bottom faceside.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state where noodles are cut and ejectedform the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles shown in FIG. 6, andis a schematic bottom view showing the apparatus for cutting andejecting noodles from a bottom face side.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing scraping tines of a conventionalnoodle scraper.

FIG. 9 is a view showing scraping tines of a noodle scraper related tothe present invention, and is a perspective view showing a configurationof the scraping tine that is folded.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a modified example of scraping tines of thenoodle scraper related to the present invention, and is a perspectiveview showing a folded shape or a curved shape of the scraping tine.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a modified example of scraping tines of thenoodle scraper related to the present invention, and is a perspectiveview showing a folded shape or a curved shape of the scraping tine.

FIG. 12 is a view showing scraping tines of the noodle scraper relatedto the present invention, and is a perspective view showing a slopedface provided at one side of a tine-edge section of the scraping tine.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a modified example of scraping tines of thenoodle scraper related to the present invention, and is a perspectiveview showing the sloped face provided at one side of the tine-edgesection of the scraping tine.

FIG. 14 is a view showing a modified example of scraping tines of thenoodle scraper related to the present invention, and is a perspectiveview showing the sloped face provided at one side of the tine-edgesection of the scraping tine.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a modified example of scraping tines of thenoodle scraper related to the present invention, and is a perspectiveview showing the sloped face provided at one side of the tine-edgesection of the scraping tine.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a plurality of scraping tines thatare consecutively arrayed at the noodle scraper related to the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a modified example of plurality ofscraping tines that are consecutively arrayed at the noodle scraperrelated to the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a side view schematically illustrating a state where thenoodles are continuously cut and ejected in a conventional apparatus forcutting and ejecting noodles.

FIG. 19 is a side view schematically illustrating a state where thenoodles are continuously cut and ejected in the apparatus for cuttingand ejecting noodles related to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view illustrating a state where the noodles thatwere cut and ejected by the sloped face provided at one side of thetine-edge section of the scraping tine fall.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view schematically showing a state where theplurality of noodles that were cut and ejected by the apparatus forcutting and ejecting noodles related to the present invention aredeposited, the configuration of a plurality of noodles stacked inlayers, and the state in which the plurality of noodles are transported.

FIG. 22 is a horizontal cross-sectional view schematically showing astate where the position of the folded portion of the scraping tineengaged with a shallow groove of the cutting blade roll coincide withthe position of an outer-peripheral face of the cutting blade rolls inthe noodle scraper of the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesrelated to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a horizontal cross-sectional view schematically showing astate where the folded portion of the scraping tine engaged with theshallow groove of the cutting blade roll is disposed at an outerposition of outer-peripheral face of the cutting blade rolls in thenoodle scraper of the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles relatedto the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a horizontal cross-sectional view schematically showing astate where conventional scraping tines of the noodle scraper areengaged with the cutting blade roll shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing a state where the cutting bladeroll shown in FIG. 22 is engaged with the noodle scraper.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a state where the cutting bladeroll shown in FIG. 23 is engaged with the noodle scraper.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing the state where the cutting bladeroll shown in FIG. 24 is engaged with the noodle scraper.

FIG. 28 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing thecutting blade rolls that have three depths and are employed in theapparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles related to the presentinvention in the axial line.

FIG. 29 is a plan view schematically showing the noodle scraper relatedto the present invention, and is a plan view schematically showing thenoodle scraper having scraping tines engaged with the cutting bladerolls shown in FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is a view schematically showing a state where the cutting bladerolls shown in FIG. 28 is engaged with the noodle scraper shown in FIG.29, and is a bottom view from a bottom face side showing the apparatusfor cutting and ejecting noodles.

FIG. 31 is a schematic view illustrating a state where the noodles arecut by and ejected from the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesshown in FIG. 30, and is a bottom view from a bottom face side showingthe apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles.

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a modifiedexample of cutting blade rolls that have three depths and are employedin the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles related to the presentinvention, and is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the cuttingblade rolls in the axial line.

FIG. 33 is a view showing a noodle scraper related to the presentinvention, and is a plan view schematically showing the noodle scraperhaving the scraping tines engaged with the cutting blade rolls shown inFIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is a view schematically showing a state where the cutting bladerolls shown in FIG. 32 are engaged with the noodle scraper shown in FIG.33, and is a bottom view from a bottom face side showing the apparatusfor cutting and ejecting noodles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of an apparatus for cutting and ejectingnoodles and a noodle scraper related to the present invention will beexplained with reference to drawings.

In explanation below, noodles are a processed food which is formed intoa linear shape, in which flour such as cereal, rice, wheat, buckwheat,or beans is used as a main ingredient, which is cooked by boiling orsteaming.

In addition, noodles represent noodles that are obtained by mechanicallycutting a noodle band and by ejecting in an apparatus for cutting andejecting noodles, and represent a variety of noodles that belong in a“cut noodle category”.

In the “cut noodle category”, by use of a cutting blade, the noodle isprocessed by linearly cutting a thin noodle dough that was thinlyexpanded.

The foregoing noodles are obtained by a technique of producing noodlesby use of a mechanized production line.

The foregoing technique of producing noodle is not limited to atechnique employed in a general noodle-producing factory, and is used ina small size shop such as a wheat noodle shop or a buckwheat noodleshop.

In addition, the noodles in the present invention is not limited towheat noodles or buckwheat noodles.

The noodles in the present invention are processed noodles by kneading amaterial including the above-described main ingredient, by obtaining aband-shaped noodle band, and by cutting and separating the noodle band;the noodles were cut and separated by use of the apparatus for cuttingand ejecting noodles of the present invention.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing an apparatus for cutting andejecting noodles related to the present invention, illustrating a stepprevious to a step of cutting and ejecting noodles, a step after thestep of cutting and ejecting noodles, and a state where the noodles areprocessed and transferred.

Firstly, a noodle dough is obtained by mixing and kneading generalnoodle-production ingredients, such as flour or starch, by use of aknown method.

Subsequently, the noodle dough is rolled and passed through gaps ofseveral rolled rolls, and a band-shaped noodle band is obtained.

The gap between final rolled rolls 2 and 2′ is adjusted so as to form anoodle band having a predetermined thickness.

The noodle band 1 that was passed through the gap of the rolled rolls 2and 2′ is passed through a gap between the pair of cutting blade rolls 4and 4′ of an apparatus 3 for cutting and ejecting noodles.

Each of the pair of cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′ has a plurality oftoroidal-groove sections.

Consequently, the noodle band 1 is cut and ejected as a plurality ofnoodles 5 a to 5 d by the plurality of toroidal-groove sections whilepassing through the gap between the cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′.

Noodle scrapers 6 and 6′ are disposed under each of the cutting bladerolls 4 and 4′.

The noodle scrapers 6 and 6′ have a plurality of scraping tines(described below) that are engaged with or fitted into each of thetoroidal-groove sections (not shown) of the cutting blade rolls 4 and4′.

In addition, the plurality of scraping tines includes scraping tineshaving a plurality of lengths, that is, having different lengthsdifferent from each other.

The noodles 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 d that were cut by and ejected fromthe cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′ are peeled at predetermined peelingposition (a front position or a rear position) in a circumferentialdirection of the cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′ by the noodle scrapers 6and 6′.

In addition, the noodles 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 d are dropped from thecutting blade rolls 4 and 4′ such that the positions at which thenoodles are peeled are different from each other in the front positionor the rear position thereof.

In other words, the cut-ejected noodles 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 d arepeeled at predetermined peeling positions in accordance with the lengthsof the scraping tines, namely, depending on the position of a longscraping tine or a short scraping tine.

Because of this, the cut-ejected noodles 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 d areseparated into each other in accordance with peeling positions of tworows as front and rear rows at each of the cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′and are dropped therefrom.

A guide shoot or the like 7 (9) that is a guide section of the presentinvention is arranged under the cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′.

The guide shoot or the like 7 (9) has a sloped face that is inclinedwith respect to a direction in which the cut-ejected noodles 5 a, 5 band 5 c, and 5 d are dropped.

In other words, the guide shoot or the like 7 (9) has the sloped facethat is inclined with respect to a direction in which the noodles fed bya noodle feeding conveyer 8 are transferred.

In the guide shoot or the like 7 (9), an upper edge of the sloped faceis positioned under the cutting blade rolls 4 or the noodle scraper 6,and a lower edge of the sloped face is positioned above a feeding faceof the noodle feeding conveyer 8 (feeding conveyer).

The noodle feeding conveyer 8 is disposed under the guide shoot or thelike 7 (9).

The noodles 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 d that were cut by and ejected fromthe cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′ reach the sloped face of the guideshoot or the like 7 (9), the plurality of noodle groups are sequentiallystacked in layers on the sloped face of the guide shoot or the like 7(9), and the plurality of noodle groups are transported while beingdropped downward along the sloped face of the guide shoot or the like 7(9).

The plurality of noodle groups that were stacked in layers aretransported from the guide shoot or the like 7 (9) to the noodle feedingconveyer 8.

The layered noodle groups 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 d that weretransported by the noodle feeding conveyer 8 are transported from thenoodle feeding conveyer 8 to a steaming-boiling conveyer 11.

The layered noodle groups 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 d are transferred tothe steaming-boiling conveyer 11 and transported into a steaming-boilingapparatus 10, and are processed by, for example, steaming or boiling inthe steaming-boiling apparatus 10.

As shown in FIG. 21, the guide shoot 7 has a guide plate 9 thattransports the noodles that were cut by and ejected from the cuttingblade rolls 4 and 4′(reference numeral 4′ is not shown in the drawing)to the noodle feeding conveyer 8, and side plates 12 that prevent thenoodles from deviating to a side of the production line, and is formedas a shoot shape.

The size of the side plates 12 can be appropriately adjusted andcontrolled.

The plates 12 may be omitted if necessary.

In addition, the guide shoot 7 is downwardly inclined with respect tothe direction in which the noodles are transported by the feedingconveyer 8, and serves as a sliding way that causes the cut-ejectednoodles 5 a to 5 d to slide.

Each of the cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′ the pair of cutting blade rollsshown in FIG. 1 is a so-called square cutting blade rolls, and isemployed to cut and eject the noodles whose cross-sectional shape issquare.

The toroidal-groove sections of the cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′ includea plurality of grooves having at least two or more depths, that is, aplurality of first groove sections having a shortest depth and aplurality of second groove sections having a greatest depth.

The foregoing plurality of first groove sections and second groovesections are alternately, repeatedly, and consecutively arrayed inaccordance with a difference between depths.

In addition, in a case where the toroidal-groove sections of the cuttingblade rolls 4 and 4′ include a plurality of grooves having three or moredepths, the toroidal-groove sections of the cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′includes third groove sections having a depth which is greater than thatof the first groove section and less than that of the second groovesection in addition to the first grooves groove section and the secondgroove section.

In this case, the plurality of first grooves, second grooves, and thirdgrooves are repeatedly arrayed at the cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′ sothat the depths thereof are different from each other in a sequentialmanner.

In a case where the first grooves, the second grooves, and the thirdgrooves are not arranged so that the depths thereof are different fromeach other in a sequential manner, the first grooves, the secondgrooves, and the third grooves may be repeatedly arrayed in order inaccordance with an appropriate arrangement.

In addition, in the embodiment, round cutting blade rolls may beemployed instead of the square cutting blade rolls.

In addition, not only the case of having the first grooves, the secondgrooves, and the third grooves, but also the cutting blade rolls 4 and4′ may have four or more grooves including fourth grooves having a depthgreater than that of the third grooves.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing conventionalsquare cutting blade rolls, and is a vertical cross-sectional viewshowing the square cutting blade rolls in an axial line.

In the foregoing conventional square cutting blade rolls, each of thecutting blade rolls has a plurality of toroidal-groove sections whichall have the same depth.

A general noodle scraper 15 that is engaged with the cutting blade rolls13 and 13′ has a plurality of scraping tines 16 which all have the samelength, the scraping tines 16 being formed as comb form.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a structure in which long scrapingtines 16′ and short scraping tines 16″ are alternately arrayed iswell-known and is a reference to Japanese Examined Patent Application,Second Publication No. S55-34648.

When a noodle band is cut and ejected by use of the conventional noodlescraper 15 shown in FIG. 3, cut-ejected noodles 17 a to 17 d areseparated into two groups and dropped from each of the cutting bladerolls 13 and 13′ as shown in FIG. 18.

However, the depths of groove sections 14 in the cutting blade rolls 13and 13′ are formed by one depth, and the cutting blade rolls 13 and 13′are formed with one groove.

Furthermore, the groove section 14 that is one groove is relativelyshallow.

Because of this, the separation width W′ of all of four groups 17 a to17 d is narrow.

For this reason, movements of the plurality of noodles that were cut byand ejected from the cutting blade rolls 13 and 13′ attuned to eachother; when the plurality of noodles are dropped from the cutting bladerolls 13 and 13′, the plurality of noodles that are adjacent to eachother, front to back and side to side, are easily adhered to each otherin a multifaceted manner.

When the plurality of noodles reach a noodle feeding conveyer disposedunder the cutting blade rolls 13 and 13′, if the plurality of noodlesthat are adjacent to each other are stacked in layers while beingadhered to each other in a multifaceted manner, the plurality of noodlesare adhered to and agglutinated to each other in a steaming-boilingprocess, and baleful defects thereby occur.

Therefore, conventionally, it is impossible to prevent the foregoingdefects, and the plurality of noodles that are adjacent to each otherare not sufficiently-separated from each other.

In contrast, as shown in FIG. 4, the toroidal-groove sections of thecutting blade rolls 18 and 18′ related to the present invention arecomposed of the plurality of grooves, that is, two grooves constitutedof deep grooves 19 and 19′ (second groove section and toroidal-groovesection) and shallow grooves 20 and 20′ (first groove section andtoroidal-groove section).

The plurality of deep grooves 19 and 19′ and the plurality of shallowgrooves 20 and 20′ are alternately and sequentially arrayed.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, a noodle scraper 21 related to thepresent invention has long scraping tines 22 (a first scraping tine) andshort scraping tines 23 (a second scraping tine), and is therebyconstituted of the scraping tines having two tine-lengths that arelong-length and short-length.

The plurality of scraping tines 22 and the plurality of scraping tines23 are alternately and continuously arrayed in a direction in which thenoodle scraper 21 extends.

The long scraping tines 22 are disposed in the shallow grooves 20 of thecutting blade rolls 18 so as to be engaged with the shallow grooves 20.

The short scraping tines 23 are disposed in the deep grooves 19 of thecutting blade rolls 18 so as to be engaged with the deep grooves 19.

Toroidal-Groove Sections Having Two Depths

Firstly, the toroidal-groove sections having two depths, and a noodlescraper engaged with the toroidal-groove sections will be described.

In addition, in the short scraping tines 23 as shown in FIGS. 9 to 17 ofthe embodiment, a folded shape or a curved shape is formed at atine-base section 24 or at a tine-middle section 25.

Therefore, the scraping tines 23 are folded or curved so as to facebottom portions of the groove section of the cutting blade rolls thatare engaged with the scraping tine 23.

Since the short scraping tines 23 has the foregoing shape, as shown inFIGS. 19, 22 and 23, the scraping tines 23 can fit into the deep grooves19 at a steep angle with respect to the tangential line of the deepgrooves 19 having a curved surface.

In this way, it is possible to lead the positions at which the noodles 5a and 5 d that were cut by and ejected from the cutting blade rolls arepeeled and removed, to approach bottom-end portions of each cuttingblade roll.

On the other hand, in the case where the lengths of each of theplurality of scraping tines that engage with (fitted into) the groovesection of the cutting blade rolls are all the same, it is impossible tosufficiently-obtain the effect that the noodle groups that was cut byand ejected from the cutting blade rolls are distantly-separated fromeach other as much as possible.

Specifically, a noodle scraper (FIG. 8) which has the plurality ofscraping tines all having the same length and which has a foldedscraping tine and a non-folded scraping tine is prepared, and thisnoodle scraper is disposed toward the bottom portion of deep grooves ofthe cutting blade rolls shown in FIG. 24.

In this case, even if the noodle scraper has a folded scraping tine, thewidth P′ at which a front position is separated from a rear position inthe circumferential direction of the cutting blade roll is extremelylimited by a small width.

Consequently, it is impossible to sufficiently-obtain the effect thatthe noodle groups that were cut and ejected from the front position andthe rear position from the cutting blade rolls aresufficiently-separated from each other with a sufficient distance.

In contrast, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, since the tine-length of thescraping tine 23 engaged with the deep groove 19 is short, it ispossible to increase the distance between the front position and therear position in the circumferential direction of the cutting bladerolls at which the noodles are peeled.

As a result, the separation width W (FIG. 19) between the noodles 5 aand 5 d that were cut by and ejected from the deep grooves 19 and 19′ ofeach of the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′ increases more than theseparation width W′(FIG. 18) that is obtained by a conventional methodshown in FIG. 18.

Because of this, when the noodles are dropped from the cutting bladerolls 18 and 18′, it is possible to reduce adherence of adjacentnoodles.

As a result, the effect is obtained that it is possible to reduce andprevent the noodles from being adhered to and agglutinated to each othercaused by steaming and boiling.

In addition, In FIG. 5, the long scraping tine 22 of the noodle scraperrelated to the present invention has a tine-edge section 26 formed at afront-end thereof.

In addition, the scraping tine 22 has a folded shape or a curved shapethat is positioned at an adequate position of the tine-edge section 26and that faces toward a bottom portion of the shallow groove of thecutting blade rolls 20 of FIG. 4.

FIGS. 9 to 11 show a structure of the long scraping tine 22 which has afolded portion 27 or a curved portion 28 in combination with the shortscraping tine 23.

The long tine in combination with the short tine is not limited to thestructure shown in FIG. 4, and they may be appropriately combined.

In addition, FIG. 16 is a perspective view schematically showing thenoodle scraper in which the scraping tines 22 and 23 are consecutivelyarrayed.

Since the long scraping tine 22 has the above-described folded portion27 or curved portion 28, the tine-edge section 26 of the scraping tine22 is reliably fitted into the shallow groove 20 of the cutting bladerolls 18 and 18′ as shown in FIG. 19.

In addition, it is possible to lead the positions at which the tine-edgesection 26 of the scraping tine 22 is engaged with the shallow groove20, to approach a cutting-ejection line 29 of the cutting blade rolls 18and 18′.

Consequently, in the circumferential direction of the cutting bladerolls 18 and 18′, the distance between the front position and the rearposition at which the noodles are peeled increases.

Thus, it is possible to increase the relative distance P (FIGS. 22 and23) between the position at which the noodles 5 a and 5 d that were cutby and ejected from the deep grooves 19 and 19′ are peeled, and theposition at which the noodles 5 b and 5 c that were cut by and ejectedfrom the shallow grooves 20 and 20′ are peeled.

As a result, the distance between the noodles further increases in thedirection from the front position or the rear position where the noodlesare cut by and ejected from the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′; theplurality of adjacent noodles are suppressed from being adhered to andagglutinated to each other.

In the long scraping tines and the short scraping tines which areemployed in the noodle scraper related to the present invention, afolded angle of the scraping tine, a degree of curvature of the scrapingtine (for example, a degree of curvature radius or the like), or afolded position or a curved position at in a linear scraping tine may beappropriately adjusted.

For example, the above-described conditions related to the shapescraping tine are appropriately adjusted as necessary, for example, inaccordance with conditions in which the plurality of noodles that arecut by and ejected from the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′ are separatedfrom each other, or in accordance with the distance between theplurality of noodles adjacent to each other.

In the noodle scraper 21 related to the present invention, a sloped face34 that is inclined with respect to a direction orthogonal to adirection in which the tine-edge section 26 extends may be provided atthe long scraping tine 22 shown in FIGS. 5 and 9 to 11.

Specifically, the sloped face 34 may be formed at the folded portion 27or the curved portion 28 which are formed at the tine-edge section 26 ofthe scraping tine 22, and at the portion including a outer-peripheralside 32 and a front-end portion 33 of a tine-edge section 26 of thefolded portion 27 or the curving-start portion 31.

Here, the sloped face 34 is a face that is inclined with respect to aplane of the tine-edge section 26 with a predetermined angle.

The sloped face 34 is composed of, for example, a plane, a curvedsurface, or a face in which they are combined.

As a method for forming the sloped face 34, for example, a method forcutting the tine-edge section 26 is adopted.

In the case where the sloped face 34 is formed at the tine-edge section26 in the above-described manner, the noodles that are cut and ejectedby the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′ and that are in the shallowgrooves 20, are peeled by the scraping tine 22 while being in contactwith the sloped face 34, and are removed from the shallow grooves 20.

In the process in which the noodles are peeled and removed in theabove-described manner, the removing direction of the cut-ejectednoodles is inclined along the sloped face 34 and converted into thelateral direction of the scraping tine 22 (direction orthogonal to thedirection in which the tine-edge section 26 extends).

For this reason, a torsional action occurs with respect to the axialdirection of the noodles, and displacement of the noodles that are cutby and ejected from the shallow grooves 20 which are caused by arotation action occurs.

The sloped face 34 (34 a, 34 b, 34 c, and 34 d) of the noodle scraper 21related to the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 12 to 15.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the sloped face that is providedat the tine-edge section 26 of the scraping tine 22.

Here, the sloped face 34 a has a single plane, is formed at a portionthat includes the outer-peripheral side 32 of the folded portion 27 andthe front-end portion 33 of the tine-edge section 26, and is formed atone side of the tine-edge section 26.

In addition, the sloped face 34 a is obtained by cutting the tine-edgesection 26 shown in FIG. 9 in an oblique direction.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a first modified example of slopedface that is provided at the tine-edge section 26 of the scraping tine22.

Here, the sloped face 34 b has a combined face, which is constituted oftwo planes 34 b′ and 34 b″, is formed at a portion that includes theouter-peripheral side 32 of the folded portion 27 and the front-endportion 33 of the tine-edge section 26, and is formed at one side of thetine-edge section 26.

In addition, the sloped face 34 b is obtained by cutting the tine-edgesection 26 shown in FIG. 9 in the oblique direction.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a second modified example ofsloped face that is provided at the tine-edge section 26 of the scrapingtine 22.

Here, the sloped face 34 c has a curved surface at which a concavegroove is formed, is formed at a portion that includes theouter-peripheral side 32 of the folded portion 27 and the front-endportion 33 of the tine-edge section 26, and is formed at one side of thetine-edge section 26.

In addition, the sloped face 34 c is obtained by cutting the tine-edgesection 26 shown in FIG. 9 so as to form a concave shape.

In addition, the sloped face 34 c has a circular cylinder face.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a third modified example of slopedface that is provided at the tine-edge section 26 of the scraping tine22.

Here, the sloped face 34 d has a curved surface in which a groove havinga spherical surface is formed, is formed at a portion that includes theouter-peripheral side 32 of the folded portion 27 and the front-endportion 33 of the tine-edge section 26, and is formed at one side of thetine-edge section 26.

In addition, the sloped face 34 c is obtained by cutting the tine-edgesection 26 shown in FIG. 9 so as to form a concave shape.

The foregoing sloped faces is formed at one side of the folded portion27 or the curved portion 28, and is formed by cutting so as to obtainthe configuration that is inclined from an upper face of the tine-edgesection 26 toward a bottom of the tine-edge section 26 (includingsomewhat concave and convex configuration).

The cutting method for obtaining sloped face is not restricted.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view schematically showing the noodle scraper21 in which the long scraping tines 22 and having the above-describedsloped faces 34, and the short scraping tines 23 and having the foldedportion formed at the tine-middle section 25, are alternately andconsecutively arrayed.

Subsequently, a state where the noodles are peeled by the scraping tine22 formed with the sloped face 34 in a noodle production step will bespecifically described.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view from a bottom face side showing the apparatusfor cutting and ejecting noodles related to the present invention.

In FIG. 6, the noodle scraper 21 in which the long scraping tines andthe short scraping tines are alternately arranged as shown in FIG. 5 isused.

In addition, the long scraping tine 22 in which the sloped face 34 isformed at the folded portion 27 is used as the long scraping tine.

In FIG. 6, the scraping tines of the foregoing noodle scraper 21 areengaged with the groove sections of the square cutting blade rolls 18and 18′ shown in FIG. 4.

Specifically, the square cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′ are constitutedof the deep grooves 19 and 19′ and the shallow grooves 20 and 20′, andhave the toroidal-groove sections having two depths. The short scrapingtines 23 are engaged with the deep grooves 19 and 19′, and the longscraping tines 22 are engaged with the shallow grooves 20 and 20′.

FIG. 7 illustrates a state where the noodles are cut and ejected in theapparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles shown in FIG. 6, and is abottom view from a bottom face side showing the apparatus for cuttingand ejecting noodles.

In FIG. 7, a state where the plurality of noodles that are cut by andejected from the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′ are separated from eachother and moved is schematically shown.

In addition, FIG. 19 is a side view schematically showing a state wherethe noodles are continuously cut and ejected by the cutting blade rolls18 and 18′ and the noodle scrapers 21 and 21′.

As shown in FIG. 7, the noodles that were cut and ejected at thecutting-ejection line 35 of the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′ arepressed into the toroidal-groove sections that are engaged with eachother, adhered to inner walls of the toroidal-groove sections, and movedto the bottom of the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′ along with rotationof the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′.

Reference numerals 5 a′, 5 b′, 5 c′, and 5 d′ represent the noodles thatare moved to the bottom of the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′.

Next, when the noodles 5 a′, 5 b′, 5 c′, and 5 d′ reach engagementportions at which the noodle scrapers 21 and 21′ are engaged with thedeep grooves 19 and 19′ and engagement portions at which the noodlescrapers 21 and 21′ are engaged with the shallow grooves 20 and 20′, thenoodles are peeled from the shallow grooves 20 and 20′ and the deepgrooves 19 and 19′ by the noodle scrapers 21 and 21′.

Reference numerals 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 d represent the noodles thatare peeled from the shallow grooves 20 and 20′ and the deep grooves 19and 19′.

Consequently, the plurality of noodles 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 d areremoved from the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′.

Here, the noodle scrapers 21 and 21′ have the scraping tines that havetwo tine-lengths that are long-length and short-length and have afolding, that is, have the long scraping tines 22 and the short scrapingtines 23.

Because of this, at two rows (front row and rear row) that are the frontposition and the rear position in the circumferential direction of thecutting blade rolls 18 and 18′, the noodles that were cut by and ejectedfrom each of cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′ are peeled so as to beseparated from each other with a large distance.

Namely, the noodles are peeled such that the distance between the frontposition and the rear position increases.

The foregoing noodle groups of the two rows form a row extending in theaxial direction of the cutting blade rolls.

In each row, the distance between adjacent noodles is a spacecorresponding to one noodle size, and is wide so that the gapcorresponds to the width of three groove sections (19, 19′, 20, and20′).

Consequently, the plurality of noodles that are adjacent to each other,front to back and side to side, are dropped from the cutting blade rolls18 and 18′ while being separated from each other, and the plurality ofnoodles are extremely suppressed from being in contact with and adheredto each other.

In addition, the above-described sloped faces 34 are formed at the longscraping tines 22 that are engaged with the shallow grooves 20 and 20′.

For this reason, the noodles 5 b′ and 5 c′ that were cut by and ejectedfrom the shallow grooves 20 and 20′ are peeled along the sloped face 34shown in FIG. 7 toward the lateral direction of the sloped face 34.

Therefore, the noodles 5 b′ and 5 c′ are peeled in the arrow directionindicated by reference numerals 36 and 36′, the scraping direction ofthe noodles is converted thereinto from the rotation direction of thecutting blade rolls 18 and 18′.

Because of this, a torsional action occurs with respect to the axialdirection of the noodles along the sloped face 34, and displacement ofthe noodles that are cut by and ejected from the shallow grooves 20which are caused by a rotation action occurs.

The noodles are removed from the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′ whilebeing displaced by the rotation action.

On the other hand, in the noodles 5 a and 5 d that were cut by andejected from the deep grooves 19 and 19′, the resultant force of thedownward force of push out from the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′caused by the rotation force of the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′ incombination with the gravitational force caused by the weight of thenoodles (own weight) occurs, and the noodles 5 a and 5 d arelinearly-dropped.

In the noodles 5 b and 5 c that were cut by and ejected from the shallowgrooves 20 and 20′ and that are different from the foregoing noodles 5 aand 5 d, the torsional force or the displacement force caused byrotation action further occurs in addition to the resultant force of therotation force of the cutting blade rolls in combination with thegravitational force caused by the weight of the noodles.

The foregoing torsional force or displacement force caused by therotation action is the force into which a part of the rotation force ofthe cutting blade rolls is inverted due to the reactive action in whichthe noodles collide with the sloped face 34.

Specifically, the noodles are pushed out in the oblique direction withrespect to the rotation direction of the cutting blade rolls by thesloped face 34 provided at one side of the tine-edge section 26; becauseof this, the conversion action in which the direction of peeling thenoodles is converted occurs.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 20 and reference numerals 5 b and 5 cshown in FIG. 19, it is possible to lead the noodles peeled by slopedface 34 to fall from the cutting blade rolls 18 and 18′ in a spiralmanner.

Here, the “spiral manner” represents, for example, the shape of a coilspring (coiled spring) as shown in FIG. 20, or the line shape of thecoil spring that is projected onto a plane in an obliquely direction(the linear shape of the coil spring is projected onto a plane byobliquely seeing).

As described above, adjacent noodles 5 b and 5 c that were cut by andejected from the shallow grooves 20 and 20′ or the noodles 5 b and 5 cthat were cut by and ejected from the shallow grooves 20 and 20′, andadjacent noodles 5 a and 5 d that were cut and ejected from the deepgrooves 19 and 19′ are obtained.

Here, the points at which the noodles 5 b and 5 c are in contact withthe noodles 5 a and 5 d are only intersection points at which thenoodles intersect with each other.

Consequently, the noodles are prevented from being in contact with eachother while being linearly extended.

Even if the noodles 5 b and 5 c are contact with the noodles 5 a and 5d, it is possible to minimize the amount of contact area per unit lengthof the noodle to be d.

Consequently, in the shorn faces of the noodles that are adjacent toeach other, the noodles are prevented from being joined to or adhered toeach other.

Therefore, it is possible to considerably solve the problem in that theplurality of noodles are adhered to or agglutinated to each other bysteaming and boiling.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view schematically showing state where theplurality of noodles that were cut and ejected by the apparatus forcutting and ejecting noodles related to the present invention aredeposited, a configuration of the plurality of noodles stacked inlayers, and a state where the plurality of noodles are transported.

In addition, FIG. 21 corresponds to FIG. 1.

In FIG. 21, a state where the noodle scraper 6 is disposed at thecutting blade rolls 4, the noodle groups are cut by and ejected from thecutting blade rolls 4, and the noodle groups are transported to thenoodle feeding conveyer 8 by passing through the guide shoot (guidesection) 7 is shown.

In addition, FIG. 21 shows a step in which the noodle groups are cut andejected from the cutting blade rolls 4, a step in which the noodlegroups are guided by the guide shoot 7, and a step in which the noodlegroups are stacked in layers on the noodle feeding conveyer 8.

In addition, FIG. 21 is a view illustrating the noodles 5 a and 5 b arestacked in layers in the noodles 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 d.

In FIG. 21, for convenience of explanation, the cutting blade rollsindicated by reference numeral 4′ in the pair of cutting blade rolls 4and 4′ in FIG. 1, and the noodle scrapers 6 and 6′ are omitted.

In addition, in FIG. 21, the number of noodles that are ejected from thecutting blade rolls 4 and 4′ is limited.

The noodles 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 d that are ejected from the cuttingblade rolls 4 and 4′ are dropped as shown in FIG. 19.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, the noodles 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 dare separated and fall from a bottom face of the noodle scraper.

That is, as described above, the noodles 5 b and 5 c fall in a spiralmanner, and the noodles 5 a and 5 d linearly fall.

The noodles 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, and 5 d that were cut by and ejected fromthe cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′ in the above-described manner reach theguide shoot 7 disposed under the noodle scraper (not shown).

In the guide shoot 7, the side plates 12 are provided at both sidesthereof corresponding to the width of the cutting blade rolls; however,a structure in which the side plates 12 are not provided, that is, theguide plate 9 is only provided may be employed.

The guide plate 9 is disposed so as to be inclined relative to thedirection in which a belt of the noodle feeding conveyer 8 travels, thatis, so as to have a slope way from the cutting blade rolls 4 toward thenoodle feeding conveyer 8.

Consequently, the noodles reach the guide plate 9 in order of, thenoodles 5 a that were cut by and ejected from the deep grooves, thenoodles 5 b that were cut by and ejected from the shallow grooves, thenoodles that were cut by and ejected from the shallow groove (thenoodles indicated by reference numeral 5 c in FIG. 19 and omitted inFIG. 21), and the noodles that were cut by and ejected from the deepgrooves (noodles indicated by reference numeral 5 d in FIG. 19 andomitted in FIG. 21). The above-described noodle groups slide down towarda bottom of the guide plate 9 while being sequentially deposited.

The foregoing four noodles are stacked in layers, and transferred to thenoodle feeding conveyer 8 disposed under the guide plate 9.

At this time, the noodle group 5 a that was cut by and ejected from thedeep grooves is dropped and reaches the guide plate 9, thereafter,friction occurs between the guide plate 9 and the noodle groups, whichis caused by the material of the guide plate 9 or the degree ofinclination.

Because of this, as represented by reference numeral 37, the noodlegroup 5 a slides downward on the inclined guide plate 9 in a wavymanner.

In contrast, the noodle group 5 b that was cut by and ejected from theshallow groove falls in a spiral manner as shown in FIG. 20 and isdeposited in a spiral manner on the guide plate 9 and on the noodlegroup 5 a that reached the guide plate 9 in advance.

For this reason, the noodle groups 5 a and 5 b are stacked in layers.

In addition, the noodle groups 5 a and 5 b stacked in layers slidedownward on the guide plate 9.

After that, in the continuously cutting and ejecting, the noodle group 5b that was cut by and ejected from the shallow groove in a way similarto the above-described manner reaches and is deposited on the guideplate 9 and on the noodle group 5 a that preliminarily reached the guideplate 9, and the noodle group 5 b slides down the guide plate 9.

In addition, the noodle groups that are on the guide plate 9 aretransferred to the noodle feeding conveyer 8 and transported.

For this reason, the noodle group 5 b that was cut and ejected in aspiral manner is prevented from being unlimitedly stacked in layers in acircular manner such that a circle is formed around a point.

In addition, the noodle group 5 b that was cut by and ejected from thecutting blade rolls falls so as to repeatedly draw a circular arc and isdeposited on the noodle group 5 a while having a layered configuration(reference numeral 38) in a spiral manner, along with the action wherethe noodle groups 5 a and 5 b slide down the guide plate 9 and theaction where the noodles 5 a are 5 b transferred by the noodle feedingconveyer 8.

The noodle groups 5 a and 5 b that are stacked in layers in theabove-described manner are transported by the noodle feeding conveyer 8.

Furthermore, the above-described action will be specifically described.

The noodle group 5 a that reached the noodle feeding conveyer 8 is bentin a wavy manner depending on the feeding speed of the noodle feedingconveyer 8.

Here, in the noodle group 5 a that reached the noodle feeding conveyer8, a distance between the foregoing bent shapes is compressed, and atwo-dimensional waveform is obtained.

On the other hand, the noodle group 5 b is deposited on the noodle group5 a while having a line shape like that of a coil spring projected ontoa plane seen from an oblique direction.

In addition, the noodle group 5 b is compressed in the feeding directiondepending on the feeding speed of the noodle feeding conveyer 8 whenbeing transferred from the guide plate 9 to the noodle feeding conveyer8.

Consequently, the noodle group 5 b has a plurality of ring-shapedportions.

In a contact point forming a part of the ring-shaped portions, a topface of the noodle is in contact with a back face of the noodle.

In addition, in other words, the noodle group 5 b reaches the guideplate 9 such that the noodles formed in a spiral manner are stacked inlayers, while traveling so that center positions of the ring-shapednoodles are slid on the guide plate 9, and the noodle group 5 b slideson the guide plate 9 and is transferred to the noodle feeding conveyer8.

As described above, the noodle group 5 a that was cut by and ejectedfrom the deep grooves is noodles that are formed in a wavy manner on aplane as indicated by reference numeral 37 so as to include the waveformhaving a predetermined amplitude of vibration and a predetermined phase.

In contrast, as indicated by reference numeral 38, the noodle group 5 bthat was cut by and ejected from the shallow groove includes a pluralityof ring-shaped noodle portions formed by intersecting the noodlesitself.

Specifically, the noodle group 5 b reaches and downwardly slides on theguide plate 9 in a spiral manner as shown in FIG. 20, the noodle group 5b is thereby formed so as to have a plurality of ring-shaped noodleportions on the noodle feeding conveyer 8.

In other words, the noodle group 5 b is constituted of the plurality ofring-shaped noodle portions that are continuously formed by one noodle,and curved relay noodle portions that connects adjacent ring-shapednoodle portions with each other.

In addition, a feeding speed of the noodle feeding conveyer 8 and arotation speed of the cutting blade rolls 4 and 4′ are adequatelyadjusted so that the ring-shaped noodle portions are successivelyformed.

As described above, the noodle groups 5 a and 5 b are formed, even ifboth groups are stacked in layers, since the deposition conditions ofthe noodle groups 5 a and 5 b are completely different from each other,the contact point at which adjacent noodles that are in contact witheach other or the adhesion point at which they are adhered to each otherare limited only to intersection points of the noodles.

Furthermore, the intersection points of the noodles are randomlydistributed.

Consequently, it is possible to extremely reduce the number of theintersection points of the noodles, the intersection points are formedat micro portions in a limited way.

Furthermore, the noodles 5 b that were cut by and ejected from theshallow grooves are removed from the cutting blade rolls between thenoodles 5 a and 5 a that were cut by and ejected from the deep grooves.

For this reason, the region in which the noodles 5 a and the noodles 5 bare stacked in layers strides the noodles that were cut by and ejectedfrom the deep grooves disposed at the right and left.

Because of this, the contact points and the adhesion point of thenoodles are further randomly distributed.

As a result, the present invention is different from a method forstacking noodle groups due to a conventional method in which the noodlegroup that was cut by and ejected from the cutting blade rolls landswhile being in the wavy manners similar to each other and in which thenoodles are stacked in layers in a state where the landing positionsthereof are attuned to each other.

In contrast to the foregoing conventional method, in the noodle groupsthat are formed by the present invention, the number of portions atwhich the noodles are adhered to each other is dramatically low.

As a result, in a steaming-boiling step, it is possible to drasticallydecrease adhesion and agglutination of the noodles that are adjacent toeach other.

Therefore, it is possible to solve conventional problems which arecaused by adhesion and agglutination of the noodles.

In addition, in the stacked condition of the noodle groups byconventional methods, adjacent noodles are adhered to each other by linecontacting, face contacting, or line contacting and face contacting.

In contrast, in the present invention, the noodles disposed while beingin a wavy manner (noodles formed so as to include the waveform having apredetermined amplitude of vibration and a predetermined phase), and thenoodles formed in a spiral manner (noodles having the plurality ofring-shaped noodle portions and relay noodle portions) are stacked inlayers.

In this case, the portions at which both noodles are in contact witheach other when being stacked in layers are intersection points, thatis, points.

Consequently, since the noodles are adhered at the points and theadhesion portions thereof are limited to micro points, even if theplurality of noodles are in a state of being adhered and agglutinated toeach other in a steaming-boiling step, adhesion portions are promptlydissociated and the noodles easily ravel when products are being cookedand restored.

Consequently, it is possible to solve the problems of cooking defectsand quality defects.

In the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles of the presentinvention, the cut-ejected noodles that are peeled by the noodle scraperreach the guide plate or the guide shoot as described above, and arestacked in layers.

Consequently, in order to prevent the reached condition and the stackedcondition from being interfered with, it is necessary for a frontportion of the guide plate or the guide shoot with respect to thetraveling direction of the noodles that are transported by the noodlefeeding conveyer (an upside portion between the guide plate and theguide plate, and the noodle feeding conveyer) to be opened.

Therefore, if it is possible to prevent a state where the noodles reachthe guide plate and a state where the noodles are stacked in layers frombeing interfered with, a tube-shaped guide pipe that is used forpreventing the noodles from being accidentally deviated may be employedas a guide plate.

In this case, it is necessary to dispose the guide pipe so that thepeeled and removed noodles are not physically and forcedly bent.

Specifically, it is necessary to dispose the guide pipe so as to have asufficient gap between the guide plate that becomes a base, and innersurfaces that are opposed to each other in the pipe surrounding theguide plate.

A guide pipe used in a conventional apparatus for cutting and ejectingnoodles is employed to lead the noodles that were cut by and ejectedfrom the cutting blade rolls to be forcedly bent.

In contrast, the guide pipe used in the present invention are completelydifferent from a conventional guide pipe in terms of the above-describedpoints, that is, purpose, actions, and effects.

In the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles of the presentinvention, the tine-edge section of the long scraping tine is fittedinto the shallow grooves formed at the cutting blade rolls, and the longscraping tine is engaged with the shallow grooves.

In addition, a structure in which the position of the folded portion orthe position of the curving-start portion in the long tine-edge sectionare substantially at the same height position of the outer-peripheralface of the cutting blade rolls may be employed.

Also, the structure in which the position of the folded portion or theposition of the curving-start portion in the long tine-edge section areslightly higher than the position of the outer-peripheral face of thecutting blade rolls, that is, are disposed at outer position of anouter-peripheral face of the cutting blade rolls may be employed.

FIGS. 22 and 23 are horizontal cross-sectional views showing a statewhere the noodle scraper 21 including the scraping tine having twotine-lengths that are long-length and short-length which are constitutedof the long scraping tine 22 and the short scraping tine 23 is engagedwith the cutting blade roll 18 having two grooves that are deep andshallow which are constituted of the deep groove 19 and the shallowgroove 20.

In addition, FIG. 22 schematically shows a state where the position ofthe folded portion 27 of the scraping tine 22 engaged with the shallowgroove 20 of the cutting blade roll 18 coincide with the position of theouter-peripheral face 39 of the cutting blade roll 18.

In other words, a state where the height from the bottom portion of theshallow groove 20 to the position of the folded portion 27 issubstantially the same as the height from the bottom portion of theshallow groove 20 to the position of the outer-peripheral face 39 isshown.

In addition, FIG. 23 schematically shows a state where the foldedportion 27 of the scraping tine 22 engaged with the shallow grooves 20of the cutting blade rolls 18 is disposed outward the position of theouter-peripheral face 39 of the cutting blade rolls 18.

In other words, a state where the height from the bottom portion of theshallow groove 20 to the position of the folded portion 27 is greaterthan the height from the bottom portion of the shallow groove 20 to theposition of the outer-peripheral face 39 is shown.

In contrast, FIG. 24 illustrates a comparative example and is ahorizontal cross-sectional view schematically showing a state where aconventional scraping tine of a noodle scraper is engaged with thecutting blade roll of FIGS. 22 and 23.

Specifically, FIG. 24 is a side view schematically showing a state wherethe noodle scraper 100 including the plurality of scraping tines 40having the same tine-lengths is engaged with the cutting blade roll.

As evidenced by comparing FIG. 22 with FIG. 24, it is seen that thedistance P between the scraping tine 22 and the scraping tine 23 shownin FIG. 22 is wider than the distance P′ between scraping tines shown inFIG. 24.

In addition, similarly, it is seen that the distance P between thescraping tine 22 and the scraping tine 23 shown in FIG. 23 is greaterthan the distance P′ between scraping tines shown in FIG. 24.

As remarked above, the distance P is greater than the distance P′; thisis because the distance between the front position and the rear positionin the circumferential direction of the cutting blade roll 18 isincreased, since the long scraping tine 22 has the folded portion 27.

Since the distance P is expanded in the above-described manner, thedistance between the position at which the noodle is peeled by thescraping tine 22 and the position at which the noodle is peeled by thescraping tine 23 increases, the noodle groups are spaced from each otherand can be reliably separated from each other.

Furthermore, due to coinciding the position of the folded portion 27with the position of the outer-peripheral face 39 of the cutting bladerolls 18, or due to causing the folded portion 27 to be arranged outwardfrom the position of the outer-peripheral face 39 of the cutting bladeroll 18, it is possible to reliably remove and eject the noodles so asto be outside of the cutting blade rolls 18.

Specifically, in the case where the scraping tine in which theabove-described sloped face 34 is formed at the folded portion 27 or thecurved portion 28 in the tine-edge section 26 is used, it is possible toreliably guide the noodles that were peeled from the cutting blade rollsto outside of the cutting blade rolls.

In addition, the noodles are pushed out in the lateral direction of thesloped face 34, consequently, it is possible to generate the force ofejecting the noodles in the oblique direction relative to the directionin which the scraping tine 22 extends.

In addition, in the case of structure in which the folded portion 27 isprotruded outside of the outer-peripheral face of the cutting bladerolls 39, it is possible to increase the force of ejecting the noodlesin the oblique direction.

Because of this, it is possible to expand the spiral shape in a furtherlarge region, the spiral shape being formed after the noodles peeled bythe scraping tine 22 was removed.

That is, it is possible to increase the diameter of the circle viewed ina vertical direction of the spiral shape shown in FIG. 20.

For this reason, when the plurality of noodles are stacked in layers, itis possible to absorb and reduce the degree of curvature in the noodles.

Since the degree of the curvature is absorbed and reduced when theplurality of noodles are stacked in layers, it is possible to easily andeffectively restore the noodles that are products to their originalstate in a linear manner.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 22 and is a viewshowing a state where the noodle scraper is engaged with the cuttingblade roll.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 23, and is a viewshowing a state where the noodle scraper is engaged with the cuttingblade roll.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 24, and is a viewshowing a state where the noodle scraper is engaged with the cuttingblade roll.

The pair of cutting blade rolls is employed in a practical noodleproduction step, therefore, the noodle groups are stacked in layers onthe layered structure, in addition to the layered structure of thenoodle groups that were cut and ejected as shown in FIG. 21.

Specifically, a spiral noodle layer (reference numeral 38 in FIG. 21) ofthe noodle group that was cut by and ejected from the shallow groove,and a noodle layer (reference numeral 37 in FIG. 21) that was cut by andejected from the deep groove and disposed while being in a wavy mannerare sequentially stacked in layers on the above-described layeredstructure on the guide plate or on the guide shoot.

The plurality of noodle groups that were stacked in layers in theabove-described manner are transported by the noodle feeding conveyerprovided under the guide plate.

In addition, in the above-described layered structure on which thespiral noodle layer and the noodle layer disposed in a wavy manner arestacked in layers, a state where adjacent noodles are in contact with oradhered to each other is the same state as described with reference toFIGS. 20 and 21.

Therefore, it is possible to solve the problems of cooking defects andquality defects in a conventional noodle production step.

In addition, the rotation speed of the cutting blade rolls, the materialof the guide plate (shoot), the degree of inclination of the guide plate(shoot), the distance between a point at which the noodles land thesloped face, and a bottom-end portion of the sloped face, a feedingspeed of the noodle feeding conveyer, or the like is adequately adjustedand controlled.

Consequently, it is possible to adjust a state where the noodle groupsthat were cut by and ejected from the deep grooves are disposed whilebeing in a wavy manner, and a state where the noodle groups that werecut by and ejected from the shallow grooves and that are dropped in aspiral manner and disposed are stacked in layers (noodle groups having aplurality of ring-shaped noodle portions).

In addition, the foregoing state can be appropriately set in accordancewith a steaming-boiling condition or a product quality.

In both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles and the noodlescraper of the present invention, the cutting blade rolls including twogrooves having a plurality of deep grooves and shallow grooves areengaged with the noodle scraper including the scraping tine having twotine-lengths that are long-length and short-length.

As a result, the above-described actions and effects are obtained.

The constitution of both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesand the noodle scraper in which the foregoing actions and the effectsare obtained is appropriately modified.

For example, the toroidal-groove sections including the plurality ofgrooves having the plurality of depths in the cutting blade rolls may bearrayed in an optional arrangement.

In addition, in the noodle scraper engaged with the toroidal-groovesections of the cutting blade rolls, the lengths of the scraping tinesmay be adjusted in accordance with an arrangement of the above-describedtoroidal-groove sections.

That is, the long scraping tine or the short scraping tine may beappropriately arranged depending on the toroidal-groove sectionsincluding a plurality of grooves having a plurality of depths.

In addition, in the foregoing apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodlesand the noodle scraper, the groove section having the shortest depth isengaged with the scraping tine having a longest tine-length, and thegroove section having a greatest depth is engaged with the scraping tinehaving a shortest tine-length.

Second Embodiment

Toroidal-Groove Sections Having Three Depths

Next, toroidal-groove sections having three depths, and a noodle scraperengaged with the toroidal-groove sections will be described.

In the second embodiment, identical symbols are used for the elementswhich are identical to those of the first embodiment, and theexplanations thereof are omitted or simplified.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing cutting bladerolls having three depths, and is a vertical cross-sectional view of thecutting blade rolls in axial lines 45 and 45′.

Cutting blade rolls 44 and 44′ has a shallow grooves 43 having ashortest depth (first groove section, toroidal-groove sections), a deepgrooves 41 having a greatest depth (second groove section,toroidal-groove sections), and a middle grooves 42 having a depth thatis greater than that of the shallow grooves 43 and is less than that ofthe deep grooves 41 (third groove section, toroidal-groove sections).

In the cutting blade rolls 44 and 44′, the groove sections 41, 42, and43 are provided so that the depths thereof increase in order along theaxial direction of the cutting blade rolls; and groups, each of which isconsisted of the groove sections 41, 42, and 43, are repeatedlymulti-provided along axial directions of the cutting blade rolls.

FIG. 29 is a plan view schematically showing a noodle scraper having thescraping tine engaged with the cutting blade roll 44 shown in FIG. 28.

A noodle scraper 49 has a long scraping tine 48 having a longtine-length (first scraping tine, and long scraping tine), a scrapingtine 46 having a tine-length that is shorter than that of the scrapingtine 48 (second scraping tine, short scraping tine), and a scraping tine47 having a tine-length that is shorter than that of the scraping tine48 and is longer than that of the scraping tine 46 (third scraping tine,middle scraping tine).

Namely, the noodle scraper 49 is constituted of the scraping tineshaving three tine-lengths that are short, middle, and long.

In addition, the position of the noodle scraper 49 is determined withrespect to the cutting blade rolls 44 so that the scraping tine 48 isengaged with the shallow groove 43, the scraping tine 47 is engaged withthe middle groove 42, and the scraping tine 46 is engaged with the deepgroove 41.

FIG. 30 is a view schematically showing a state where the cutting bladerolls 44 and 44′ shown in FIG. 28 are engaged with the noodle scraper 49shown in FIG. 29, and is a bottom view from a bottom face side showingthe apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles.

As shown in FIG. 30, the short scraping tines 46 are engaged with(fitted into) the deep grooves 41, the middle scraping tines 47 areengaged with (fitted into) the middle grooves 42, and the long scrapingtines 48 are engaged with (fitted into) the shallow grooves 43.

Consequently, the noodle scrapers 49 are 49′ are engaged with thecutting blade rolls 44 and 44′, respectively.

FIG. 31 is a view illustrating a state where the noodles are cut by andejected from the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles shown inFIG. 30 (a state where the noodles are separated from each other and astate where the noodles are peeled and removed), and is a bottom viewfrom a bottom face side showing the apparatus for cutting and ejectingnoodles.

As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, folded portions 51 and 51′ and sloped faces50 and 50′ are formed at a tine-edge section of the long scraping tine48 and 48′.

Next, a case where the noodles are cut and ejected by use of the cuttingblade rolls 44 and 44′ and the noodle scrapers 49 are 49′ having theforegoing structure will be described.

Firstly, the noodle band inserted between the cutting blade rolls 44 and44′ is cut and ejected as the plurality of noodles while being pushedinto the groove sections 41, 42, and 43 along with the rotation of thecutting blade rolls 44 and 44′.

Each of the plurality of noodles move to a bottom of the cutting bladerolls 44 and 44′ along with the rotation of the cutting blade rolls 44and 44′ in a state where the noodles are pushed into the groove sections41, 42, and 43.

As described above, since the scraping tines 46, 47, and 48 are engagedwith the groove sections 41, 42, and 43, respectively, the noodlescollide with the scraping tines 46, 47, and 48 and are thereby peeled.

In this way, the noodles 54, 55, and 56 that are peeled from the cuttingblade rolls 44 and 44′ and separated from each other are obtained.

As described above, since the noodle scraper 49 is constituted of thescraping tines having three tine-lengths that are short, middle, andlong, it is possible to cut and eject the noodles from a front position,a middle position, and a rear position in the circumferential directionof the cutting blade rolls in one of the cutting blade rolls.

That is, the noodle groups that are constituted of three rows (threegroups and three steps) are cut and ejected in a separated manner in oneof the cutting blade rolls.

The noodle groups constituted of the foregoing three rows form rowsextending in the axial direction of the cutting blade rolls.

Consequently, the portions at which the noodles are joined to andadhered to each other in adjacent noodles are further distributed, andit is possible to reduce a contact area.

In each row of the noodle groups, the distance between adjacent noodlesis the width corresponding to five groove sections (41, 42, and 43).

Therefore, in each row, since the plurality of noodles aredistantly-separated from each other by the width of the five groovesections, the number of contact points of noodles is reduced, adjacentnoodles are prevented from being joined to and adhered to each other.

In addition, the noodles 56 that were cut by and ejected from theshallow grooves 43 are peeled in the direction indicated by referencenumeral 57 of FIG. 31 by a sloped face 50 provided at the scraping tine48 corresponding to the shallow groove 43.

That is, due to the sloped face 50, the scraping direction of thenoodles 56 is converted from the rotation direction of the cutting bladeroll into the direction indicated by reference numeral 57.

For this reason, the noodles 56 fall in a spiral manner shown in FIG. 20after the noodles 56 are peeled from the shallow grooves 43.

In addition, as described above, the noodles 56 are guided by the guideplate provided under the cutting blade roll, and stacked in layers onthe guide plate,

In addition, the noodles 56 are transported by the noodle feedingconveyer in a state where the noodles 56 are stacked in layers.

As a result, in a state where the noodles are stacked in layers, thenumber of portions at which the noodles are adhered due to intersectionof the noodles dramatically decreases, and the density of noodlesdecreases.

Because of this, it is possible to considerably reduce the number oftimes or the number of portions where the plurality of noodles arejoined to and adhered to each other, or the number of times or thenumber of portions where the plurality of noodles layers are joined toand adhered to each other in each noodle group.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 31, three groups of the noodles areobtained from one of the cutting blade rolls, that is, six groups of thenoodles are obtained from two of the cutting blade rolls.

Two rows that are the noodle groups 56 and 56′ stacked in layers whilefalling in a spiral manner are positioned as central two rows of sixrows noodle groups.

Therefore, when six rows of noodle groups reach the guide plate 9 asshown in FIG. 1, six rows of the noodle groups becomes six layers ofnoodle groups, slide on the guide plate 9, and are transported to asteaming-boiling process apparatus by the noodle feeding conveyer 8.

Here, in six layers of the noodle groups that land on the noodle feedingconveyer 8, two layers corresponding to center portions are noodlegroups 56 and 56′ that are stacked in layers while falling in a spiralmanner.

Therefore, in the noodle groups 56 and 56′, since the density of noodlesdecreases, the moisture vapor smoothly flows between the six layers ofthe noodle groups, and the problems of steaming-boiling defects or thelike are solved in the center sections.

Modified Example of Second Embodiment

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a modifiedexample of cutting blade rolls that have three depths, and is a verticalcross-sectional view showing the cutting blade rolls in the axial line.

The above-described second embodiment shows a structure in which thegroove sections 41, 42, and 43 are arrayed so that the depths thereofincreases in order along the axial direction of the cutting blade rolls.

In contrast, FIG. 32 shows cutting blade rolls 58 and 58′ in which anarrangement of three different depths of groove sections are differentfrom that of the second embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a plan view schematically showing a noodle scraper 56 havingthe scraping tines engaged with the cutting blade rolls shown in FIG.32.

FIG. 34 is a view schematically showing a state where the cutting bladerolls 58 and 58′ shown in FIG. 32 are engaged with the noodle scraper 59shown in FIG. 33, and is a bottom view from a bottom face side showingthe apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles.

As shown in FIG. 34, the short scraping tines 63 (second scraping tine)are engaged with (fitted into) the deep grooves 60 (second groovesection, toroidal-groove sections), the middle scraping tines 64 (thirdscraping tine) are engaged with (fitted into) the middle grooves 61(third groove section, toroidal-groove sections), and the long scrapingtines 65 (first scraping tine) are engaged with (fitted into) theshallow grooves 62 (first groove section, toroidal-groove sections).

Consequently, the noodle scrapers 59 and 59′ are engaged with thecutting blade rolls 58 and 58′, respectively.

Since the groove section and the array of the scraping tines shown inFIG. 34 are constituted of the scraping tine having three tine-lengthsthat are short, middle, and long, it is possible to cut and eject thenoodles from the front positions, the middle positions, and the rearposition in the circumferential direction of the cutting blade rolls inone of the cutting blade rolls.

That is, the noodle groups of three rows (three groups, three steps) arecut and ejected so as to be separated from each other in one of thecutting blade rolls.

The foregoing noodle groups constituted of three rows form rowsextending the axial direction of the cutting blade rolls.

In terms of separating the noodle groups of three rows from each otheras mentioned above, the same actions occurs and the same effects areobtained, as the method of using the noodle scraper 49 shown in FIG. 29.

Additionally, in this modified example, an effect different from themethod shown in FIG. 29 is obtained as described below.

That is, in one row of the noodle group that are cut by and ejected fromthe plurality of shallow grooves 62, the distance between the noodlesthat are adjacent to each other corresponds to the width of seven groovesections (60, 61, and 62), and the plurality of noodles are separatedfrom each other by the width of the seven groove sections.

In addition, also, in one row of the noodle group that is cut by andejected from the plurality of middle grooves 61, the plurality ofnoodles are separated from each other by the distance corresponding tothe width of the seven groove sections in a manner similar to theshallow grooves 62.

Therefore, in each row, since the plurality of noodles are separatedfrom each other by the width of the seven groove sections, the number ofcontact points of the noodles decreases, and adjacent noodles areprevented from being joined to and adhered to each other.

In addition, the number of contact points of the noodles that areadjacent to each other decreases, and it is possible to prevent thenoodles from being adhered to and agglutinated to each other in asteaming-boiling step.

In addition, in the case where a sloped face 69 is formed at a foldedportion 66 of a long scraping tine 65 in a similar manner to the noodlescraper shown in FIG. 29, the noodles that are peeled by the scrapingtine 65 are removed along the sloped face 69, the removing direction isconverted into an oblique direction, and it is possible for the noodlesto fall in a spiral manner.

The plurality of noodle groups that are cut and ejected by the apparatusfor cutting and ejecting noodles in the example are transported to anapparatus in which a steaming-boiling process is performed in a statewhere the noodles are stacked in layers as described above.

Here, the two layers corresponding to the center portions of the layeredstructure constituted of total six layers are the noodle groups that arestacked in layers while being dropped from the cutting blade rolls in aspiral manner after being peeled by the sloped face.

In addition, the noodle group of the two layers positioned at anupper-layer side of the center portions and the noodle group of the twolayers positioned at a lower-layer side of the center portions are thenoodle groups in which the number of joint points or adhesion points ofadjacent noodles decreases, which are stacked in layers and disposedwhile being in a wavy manner.

Consequently, it is possible to further reduce the number of portions atwhich the noodle layers are adhered to or agglutinated to each other inthe plurality of noodles that are adjacent to each other.

For this reason, it is possible to produce a noodle agglomeration inwhich the noodle layers are prevented from being adhered to oragglutinated to each other.

The present invention obtains an action and effect by theabove-described structure.

As long as the above-described action and effect are obtained, thetechnical scope of the present invention is not limited to the aboveembodiments, but various modifications may be made without departingfrom the scope of the present invention.

Namely, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles related to thepresent invention, each of the constituent elements may be modified oradjusted as required.

For example, in the cutting blade rolls in the present invention, thetoroidal-groove sections are the groove sections having the two depthsthat are constituted of the deep grooves and the shallow grooves, or thegroove sections having the three depths that are constituted of the deepgrooves, the middle grooves, and the shallow grooves.

Not only the foregoing toroidal-groove sections, but also the number ofsteps may increase as needed.

In addition, an arrangement in which the groove sections having thedepths are arrayed may be appropriately set.

In the noodle scraper related to the present invention, the tine-lengthsof the scraping tine are set to two lengths or three lengths.

Not only the above-described structure, but also the number of lengthsmay increase as needed.

It is not necessary for the number of tine-lengths of the scraping tineto coincide with steps of the groove section of the cutting blade rolls.

For example, a combination of the depths of the toroidal-groove sectionsbeing set as two depths with the tine-lengths of the plurality ofscraping tines in the noodle scraper being set as three may be applied.

In addition, other combinations may be applied as needed.

In addition, the sloped face is formed on the folded portion or thecurved portion in the scraping tines of the noodle scraper related tothe present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the sloped face inclined along thedirection identical to the direction of the scraping tines array thatare consecutively arrayed on the noodle scraper is described; however,the structure of the sloped face of the present invention is not limitedto the structure described in the above-described embodiment.

As a structure of the sloped face, for example, a structure in whichsloped directions are alternately modified, or a structure in which thesloped directions are modified in order of appropriate arrangement asneeded may be applied.

However, in order to prevent the plurality of noodles that were cut byand ejected from the cutting blade rolls and peeled by the scrapingtine, from colliding with each other, from being interfered with eachother, and from being adhered to each other, it is necessary for each ofthe plurality of peeled noodles to smoothly fall from the cutting bladerolls in a spiral manner.

In order to obtain the foregoing noodles formed as a spiral shape, it isdesirable that the directions of the sloped faces that are provided atthe scraper all be the same.

In addition, in the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles of theabove-described embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 31, the noodles arecut by and ejected from each of the pair of cutting blade rolls indifferent directions.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the noodles are peeled from the noodlescraper 21 in the direction indicated by reference numeral 36, and thenoodles are peeled from the noodle scraper 21′ in the directionindicated by reference numeral 36′.

Namely, the directions indicated by reference numerals 36 and 36′ aredifferent from each other, and the noodles are peeled along thedirections indicated.

In addition, in FIG. 31, in a similar manner, the scraping direction ofthe noodles peeled by the noodle scraper 49 and the scraping directionof the noodles peeled by the noodle scraper 49′ are different from eachother.

In order to scrape the noodles in a manner that the scraping directionsare different from each other as mentioned above, the sloped faces arearrayed in the noodle scraper.

The present invention is not limited to the arrangement of sloped facesprovided at the noodle scraper as described above.

For example, in explanation with reference to FIG. 7, the sloped facesmay be arrayed on the noodle scrapers 21 and 21′ such that the scrapingdirection of the noodles peeled by the noodle scraper 21 is the same asthe scraping direction of the noodles peeled by the noodle scraper 21′.

However, in order to avoid the plurality of noodles that are peeled fromthe sloped face of each noodle scraper from colliding with each other orfrom being interfered with or adhered to each other, it is necessary foreach of the plurality of peeled noodles to smoothly fall from thecutting blade rolls in a spiral manner.

In order to obtain the foregoing noodles formed as a spiral shape, it isdesirable that the sloped face be formed at the scraping tine of thenoodle scraper as shown in FIGS. 7 and 31.

Consequently, it is possible to promptly separate and remove the noodlesthat were peeled by the noodle scraper from each other in each ofdirections that are opposite to each other.

In addition, in order for the noodles peeled by the scraping tine tofall in a spiral manner, it is preferable that the sloped face that isformed at the folded portion of the scraping tine or the curved portionbe formed at the scraping tine having the longest tine-length.

The present invention is not limited to a constitution in which thesloped face is only formed at the long scraping tine.

For example, a constitution in which the sloped face is formed at thescraping tine having the tine-length that is shorter than the longscraping tine may be applied.

In addition, in the short scraping tine or the middle scraping tine, thesloped face may be formed at the folded portion or the curved portion.

In addition, in the long scraping tines, the middle scraping tines, andthe short scraping tines, the tine-edge section that are constituted ofa combination of the folded portion, the curved portion, with the slopedface may be formed.

In addition, in the long scraping tines, the middle scraping tines, andthe short scraping tines, the scraping tine at which the sloped face asneeded is formed may be optionally selected.

The structure in which the sloped face is provided at the scraping tineas mentioned above is adequately adjusted, selected, and set inaccordance with a frequency of adherence or agglutination in which thenoodle groups are stacked in layers.

Specifically, in order to increase the frequency of adherence oragglutination of the noodles in a steaming-boiling process, or in orderto solve the adherence of the noodles of products, the structure inwhich the sloped face is provided at the scraping tine is adequatelyadjusted.

Furthermore, in order to solve the adherence in which the plurality ofnoodles that were restored to original state after cooking are adheredto each other, or in accordance with the purpose for improving thecondition of ravel in the noodles, the structure in which the slopedface is provided at the scraping tine is adequately controlled in viewof the effects of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

In both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles and the noodlescraper related to the present invention, when the noodles that arenecessary to be subjected to a steaming-boiling process are continuouslyproduced, it is possible to produce the noodle agglomeration as afinished product in which the frequency of adhesion and agglutination ofthe noodles is extremely suppressed.

Moreover, in both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles and thenoodle scraper related to the present invention, the problem such thatthe defect of ravel is solved, and it is possible to provide the noodlesproducts in which quality of goods is improved.

In addition, in both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles andthe noodle scraper related to the present invention, a bent condition ofthe noodles is absorbed before performing a steaming-boiling process,and the noodles that are stacked in layers are in contact at points.

Since the noodle structure caused by point contacting as remarked aboveis obtained, when the noodle structure is cooked, it is possible topromptly restore the noodle structure to linear noodles so as to havethe same configuration as the noodles that are cut by and ejected fromthe cutting blade rolls.

Therefore, it is possible to realize a continuous quantity production ofa buckwheat noodle, a wheat noodle, and the like which are typicallylinear, and to provide noodles products such that a buckwheat noodle anda wheat noodle having typical and natural shape for tasting.

In addition, both the apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles and thenoodle scraper related to the present invention, it is possible toabsorb the bent shape of the noodles that are cut by and ejected fromthe cutting blade rolls, to deposit (stack in layers) the noodles thatare adjacent to each other while being in point contact, and to decreasethe number of portions at which adjacent noodles are adhered to eachother.

Because of this, not only a noodle production in which asteaming-boiling process is necessary, but also a noodle production forraw noodle products that are not steamed and boiled or for noodleproducts that are performed to a heat-treatment such as a boilingprocess or the like, the present invention can be applied.

1. An apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles, comprising: a pair offirst and second cutting blade rolls, each of which has anouter-peripheral face and a plurality of toroidal-groove sections, thetoroidal-groove sections of the first cutting blade roll facing theouter-peripheral face of the second cutting blade roll, thetoroidal-groove sections of the second cutting blade roll facing theouter-peripheral face of the first cutting blade roll, the first andsecond cutting blade rolls cutting a noodle band and ejecting aplurality of noodles, the plurality of toroidal-groove sections havingtwo or more depths, and the plurality of toroidal-groove sections beingformed so as to be alternately or sequentially arrayed; first and secondnoodle scrapers comprising a plate body having a bent section extendingalong a longitudinal direction, the first and second noodle scrapersincluding a plurality of scraping tines formed in a comb form, thescraping tines of the first noodle scraper being provided at one of longsides of the plate body and engaged with each of the toroidal-groovesections of the first cutting blade roll, the scraping tines of thesecond noodle scraper being provided at one of long sides of the platebody and engaged with each of the toroidal-groove sections of the secondcutting blade roll; a guide section disposed under the first and secondnoodle scrapers for transporting a plurality of the noodles that aredropped from the first and second cutting blade rolls; and a feedingconveyer disposed under the guide section for feeding the plurality ofnoodles, wherein each scraping tine includes a tine-edge section,wherein the plurality of tine-edge sections are engaged with theplurality of toroidal-groove sections at a front position and a rearposition in a circumferential direction of the first and second cuttingblade rolls, in accordance with the depths of the toroidal-groovesections engaged with the scraping tines.
 2. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein The first and second cutting blade rolls are cuttingblade rolls having a square blade for cutting and ejecting the noodles,and the cross-sectional shape of the noodles is tetragonal.
 3. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of toroidal-groovesections includes a first groove section having a shortest depth and asecond groove section having a greatest depth; the plurality of scrapingtines includes a first scraping tine having a longest tine-length and asecond scraping tine having a tine-length which is shorter than that ofthe first scraping tine; and the first scraping tine is engaged with thefirst groove section and the second scraping tine is engaged with thesecond groove section.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein aplurality of first groove sections and a plurality of second groovesections are alternately disposed.
 5. The apparatus according to claim3, wherein the second scraping tine engaged with the second groovesection includes a tine-base section or a tine-middle section; and thetine-base section or the tine-middle section is formed in a folded shapethat is folded toward a bottom portion of the second groove section, orin a curved shape.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein thetine-edge section of the first scraping tine engaged with the firstgroove section is formed in a folded shape that is folded toward abottom portion of the first groove section, or in a curved shape.
 7. Theapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the tine-edge section of thefirst scraping tine includes a sloped face that is sloped in a directionorthogonal to a direction in which the tine-edge section extends.
 8. Theapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the tine-edge section of thesecond scraping tine includes a sloped face that is sloped in adirection orthogonal to a direction in which the tine-edge sectionextends.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a position of afolded portion or a position of a curving-start portion in the tine-edgesection of the first scraping tine substantially coincides with theposition of the outer-peripheral face of the first and second cuttingblade rolls in height, or is disposed outward of the outer-peripheralface of the first and second cutting blade rolls.
 10. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein, the plurality of toroidal-groove sectionsincludes a first groove section having a shortest depth, a second groovesection having a greatest depth, and a third groove section having adepth which is greater than that of the first groove section and is lessthan that of the second groove section; the scraping tines include afirst scraping tine having a longest tine-length, a second scraping tinehaving a tine-length which is shorter than that of the first scrapingtine, and a third scraping tine having a tine-length which is shorterthan that of the first scraping tine and is longer than that of thesecond scraping tine; and the first scraping tine is engaged with thefirst groove section, the second scraping tine is engaged with thesecond groove section, and the third scraping tine is engaged with thethird groove section.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, whereinthe second scraping tine includes a tine-base section or a tine-middlesection; and the tine-base section or the tine-middle section is formedin a folded shape that is folded toward a bottom portion of the secondgroove section, or in a curved shape.
 12. The apparatus according toclaim 10, wherein the second scraping tine and the third scraping tineinclude a tine-base section or a tine-middle section; the tine-basesection of the second scraping tine or the tine-middle section of thesecond scraping tine is formed in a folded shape that is folded toward abottom portion of the second groove section, or in a curved shape; andthe tine-base section of the third scraping tine or the tine-middlesection of the third scraping tine is formed in a folded shape that isfolded toward a bottom portion of the third groove section, or in acurved shape.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a foldedangle or a degree of curvature of the second scraping tine engaged withthe second groove section is greater than a folded angle or a degree ofcurvature of the third scraping tine engaged with the third groovesection.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the firstscraping tine includes a tine-base section or a tine-middle section; andthe tine-base section or the tine-middle section is formed in a foldedshape that is folded toward a bottom portion of the first groovesection, or in a curved shape.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 10,wherein each of the first scraping tine and the second scraping tineincludes a tine-base section or a tine-middle section; the tine-basesection of the first scraping tine or the tine-middle section of thefirst scraping tine is formed in a folded shape that is folded toward abottom portion of the first groove section, or in a curved shape; andthe tine-base section of the second scraping tine or the tine-middlesection of the second scraping tine is formed in a folded shape that isfolded toward a bottom portion of the second groove section, or in acurved shape.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the firstgroove section, the second groove section, and the third groove sectionare provided at the first and second cutting blade rolls in the orderwhere the depths thereof increase.
 17. The apparatus according to claim10, wherein the first groove section, the second groove section, and thethird groove section are provided at the first and second cutting bladerolls in a predetermined order.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 10,wherein the tine-edge section of the first scraping tine includes asloped face that is sloped in a direction orthogonal to a direction inwhich the tine-edge section extends.
 19. The apparatus according toclaim 10, wherein the tine-edge section of the second scraping tine orthe third scraping tine includes a sloped face that is sloped in adirection orthogonal to a direction in which the tine-edge sectionextends.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a position ofa folded portion or a position of a curving-start portion in thetine-edge section of the first scraping tine substantially coincideswith the position of the outer-peripheral face of the first and secondcutting blade rolls in height, or is disposed outward of theouter-peripheral face of the first and second cutting blade rolls. 21.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide section has awidth corresponding to a width of the first and second cutting bladerolls; the guide section is provided so as to be downwardly inclinedwith respect to a transfer direction of the noodles fed by the feedingconveyer; and the guide section and an upside portion between the guidesection and the feeding conveyer are opened.
 22. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein a sloped face is formed at one side of the tine-edgesection.
 23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the slopedface has one selected from the group consisting of a single plane, acombined face which is constituted of two planes, a curved surface atwhich a concave groove is formed, and a curved surface in which a groovehaving a spherical surface is formed.
 24. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the outer-peripheral face is different from thetoroidal-groove sections.
 25. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the noodles are cut and ejected at a cutting-ejection line ofthe first cutting blade roll and the second cutting blade roll, and theouter-peripheral face of the first cutting blade roll and theouter-peripheral face of the second cutting blade roll coincide with thecutting-ejection line.
 26. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe noodle band is cut and ejected as the noodles while being pushedinto the toroidal-groove sections of the second cutting blade roll bythe outer-peripheral face of the first cutting blade roll and whilebeing pushed into the toroidal-groove sections of the first cuttingblade roll by the outer-peripheral face of the second cutting bladeroll.